title: Functional Analysis of the Maize C-Repeat/DRE Motif-Binding Transcription Factor CBF3 Promoter in Response to Abiotic Stress.
abstract: The ZmCBF3 gene is a member of AP2/ERF transcription factor family, which is a large family of plant-specific transcription factors that share a well-conserved DNA-binding domain. To understand the regulatory mechanism of ZmCBF3 gene expression, we isolated and characterized the ZmCBF3 promoter (PZmCBF3). Three deletion fragments of PZmCBF3 were generated, C1-C3, from the translation start codon at position -1079, -638, and -234, and fused to the GUS reporter gene. Each deletion construct was analyzed by Agrobacterium-mediated stable transformation and expression in Arabidopsis thaliana. GUS expression assays indicated that the PZmCBF3 exhibited root-specific expression activity. A 234-bp fragment upstream of the ZmCBF3 gene conferred a high level of GUS activity in Arabidopsis. Some cis-acting elements involved in the down-regulation of gene expression were detected in the promoter, encompassing positions -1079 to -234. PZmCBF3 was activated by cold stress. The MYCCONSENSUSAT elements (CANNTG) were responsible for the ability of PZmCBF3 to respond to cold stress. The results of the present study suggest that PZmCBF3 might play a role in cold tolerance in maize.
authors.affiliation: College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China. jlliu@jlu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jinliang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China. wft1001@163.com.
authors.forename: Fengting
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China. chrisyu_gang@126.com.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China. zhangxianghui@jlu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xianghui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China. jiacg@jlu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Chengguo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China. qinjc@jlu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jianchun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China. panhongyu@jlu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Hongyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pan
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D003080:Cold Temperature; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: ZmCBF3; abiotic stress; promoter; transgenic Arabidopsis