title: Over-expression of poplar transcription factor ERF76 gene confers salt tolerance in transgenic tobacco.
abstract: Ethylene response factors (ERFs) belong to a large plant-specific transcription factor family, which play a significant role in plant development and stress responses. Poplar ERF76 gene, a member of ERF TF family, can be up-regulated in response to salt stress, osmotic stress, and ABA treatment. The ERF76 protein was confirmed to be targeted preferentially in the nucleus of onion cell by particle bombardment. In order to understand the functions of ERF76 gene in salt stress response, we conducted temporal and spatial expression analysis of ERF76 gene in poplar. Then the ERF76 cDNA fragment containing an ORF was cloned from di-haploid Populus simonii×P. nigra and transferred into tobacco (Nicotiana tobacum) genome by Agrobacterium-mediated leaf disc method. Under salt stress, transgenic tobacco over-expressing ERF76 gene showed a significant increase in seed germination rate, plant height, root length, and fresh weight, as well as in relative water content (RWC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, peroxidase (POD) activity, and proline content, compared to control tobacco lines. In contrast, transgenic tobacco lines displayed a decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, relative electrical conductivity (REC) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in response to salt stress, compared to control tobacco lines. Over all, the results indicated that ERF76 gene plays a critical role in salt tolerance in transgenic tobacco.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, 51 Hexing Road, Harbin 150040, China.
authors.forename: Wenjing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Advanced Technology, Heilongjiang Academy of Sciences, Harbin 150040, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, 51 Hexing Road, Harbin 150040, China.
authors.forename: Boru
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, 51 Hexing Road, Harbin 150040, China.
authors.forename: Shengji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, 51 Hexing Road, Harbin 150040, China.
authors.forename: Renhua
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, 51 Hexing Road, Harbin 150040, China. Electronic address: tbjiang@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Tingbo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D018533:Biomass; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D018525:Germination / Q000235:genetics; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D032107:Populus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D055049:Salt Tolerance / Q000235:genetics*; D036226:Seedlings / Q000235:genetics; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D008315:Malondialdehyde
keywords: Ethylene response factor; Growth and physiological traits; ROS; Salt stress; Transcription factor