Transgenic Arabidopsis Plants Expressing Tomato Glutathione S-Transferase Showed Enhanced Resistance to Salt and Drought Stress.
Although glutathione S-transferases (GST, EC 2.5.1.18) are involved in response to abiotic stress, limited information is available regarding gene function in tomato. In this study, a GST gene from tomato, designated LeGSTU2, was cloned and functionally characterized. Expression profile analysis results showed that it was expressed in roots and flowers, and the transcription was induced by salt, osmotic, and heat stress. The gene was then introduced to Arabidopsis by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants were normal in terms of growth and maturity compared with wild-type plants. Transgenic plants also showed an enhanced resistance to salt and osmotic stress induced by NaCl and mannitol. The increased tolerance of transgenic plants was correlated with the changes in proline, malondialdehyde and antioxidative emzymes activities. Our results indicated that the gene from tomato plays a positive role in improving tolerance to salinity and drought stresses in Arabidopsis.
Biotechnology Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 201106, China.
Jing
J
Xu
Biotechnology Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 201106, China.
Xiao-Juan
XJ
Xing
Biotechnology Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 201106, China.
Yong-Sheng
YS
Tian
Biotechnology Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 201106, China.
Ri-He
RH
Peng
Biotechnology Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 201106, China.
Yong
Y
Xue
Biotechnology Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 201106, China.
Wei
W
Zhao
Biotechnology Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 201106, China.
Quan-Hong
QH
Yao
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D016960:Agrobacterium tumefaciens / Q000235:genetics; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics*; D055864:Droughts; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics*; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000235:genetics*; D009997:Osmotic Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000235:genetics; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics*; D054712:Salinity; D055049:Salt Tolerance / Q000235:genetics*; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*
D010940:Plant Proteins; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D005982:Glutathione Transferase