title: An Ethylene-responsive Factor BpERF11 Negatively Modulates Salt and Osmotic Tolerance in Betula platyphylla.
abstract: Ethylene responsive factors (ERFs) play important roles in the abiotic stress; however, only a few ERF genes from woody plants have been functionally characterized. In the present study, an ERF gene from Betula platyphylla (birch), BpERF11, was functionally characterized in response to abiotic stress. BpERF11 is a nuclear protein, which could specifically bind to GCC boxes and DRE motifs. BpERF11-overexpressing and BpERF11 RNA interference (RNAi) knockdown plants were generated for gain- and loss-of-function analysis. BpERF11 negatively regulates resistance to salt and severe osmotic stress, and the transgenic birch plants overexpressing BpERF11 shows increased electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents. BpERF11 inhibits the expression of an AtMYB61 homologous gene, resulting in increased stomatal aperture, which elevated the transpiration rate. Furthermore, BpERF11 downregulates the expression of P5CS, SOD and POD genes, but upregulates the expression of PRODH and P5CDH, which results in reduced proline levels and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. BpERF11 also significantly inhibits the expression of LEA and dehydrin genes that involve in abiotic stress tolerance. Therefore, BpERF11 serves as a transcription factor that negatively regulates salt and severe osmotic tolerance by modulating various physiological processes.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, 150040 Harbin, China.|Agronomy College, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, 163319 Daqing, China.
authors.forename: Wenhui
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, 150040 Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Guiyan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, 150040 Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, 150040 Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Hongyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, 150040 Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Dandan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, 150040 Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Hongyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, 150040 Harbin, China.|Liaoning Forestry Vocation-Technical College, 110101 Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Xuezhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, 150040 Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Yucheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D029662:Betula / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects*; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D064587:Osmoregulation / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D054046:Plant Stomata / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018526:Plant Transpiration / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011392:Proline / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055049:Salt Tolerance / Q000235:genetics*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D005030:Ethylenes; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D010940:Plant Proteins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D008315:Malondialdehyde; C036216:ethylene; D011392:Proline