title: SlDEAD31, a Putative DEAD-Box RNA Helicase Gene, Regulates Salt and Drought Tolerance and Stress-Related Genes in Tomato.
abstract: The DEAD-box RNA helicases are involved in almost every aspect of RNA metabolism, associated with diverse cellular functions including plant growth and development, and their importance in response to biotic and abiotic stresses is only beginning to emerge. However, none of DEAD-box genes was well characterized in tomato so far. In this study, we reported on the identification and characterization of two putative DEAD-box RNA helicase genes, SlDEAD30 and SlDEAD31 from tomato, which were classified into stress-related DEAD-box proteins by phylogenetic analysis. Expression analysis indicated that SlDEAD30 was highly expressed in roots and mature leaves, while SlDEAD31 was constantly expressed in various tissues. Furthermore, the expression of both genes was induced mainly in roots under NaCl stress, and SlDEAD31 mRNA was also increased by heat, cold, and dehydration. In stress assays, transgenic tomato plants overexpressing SlDEAD31 exhibited dramatically enhanced salt tolerance and slightly improved drought resistance, which were simultaneously demonstrated by significantly enhanced expression of multiple biotic and abiotic stress-related genes, higher survival rate, relative water content (RWC) and chlorophyll content, and lower water loss rate and malondialdehyde (MDA) production compared to wild-type plants. Collectively, these results provide a preliminary characterization of SlDEAD30 and SlDEAD31 genes in tomato, and suggest that stress-responsive SlDEAD31 is essential for salt and drought tolerance and stress-related gene regulation in plants.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Mingku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guoping
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tingting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lingling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jianling
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhiping
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zongli
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D060467:Disease Resistance; D055864:Droughts; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D055049:Salt Tolerance / Q000235:genetics*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D018749:RNA, Plant; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014867:Water; D002734:Chlorophyll; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases