title: Overexpression of OsEm1 encoding a group I LEA protein confers enhanced drought tolerance in rice.
abstract: Drought is the greatest threat for crops, including rice. In an effort to identify rice genes responsible for drought tolerance, a drought-responsive gene OsEm1 encoding a group I LEA protein, was chosen for this study. OsEm1 was shown at vegetative stages to be responsive to various abiotic stresses, including drought, salt, cold and the hormone ABA. In this study, we generated OsEm1-overexpressing rice plants to explore the function of OsEm1 under drought conditions. Overexpression of OsEm1 increases ABA sensitivity and enhances osmotic tolerance in rice. Compared with wild type, the OsEm1-overexpressing rice plants showed enhanced plant survival ratio at the vegetative stage; moreover, over expression of OsEm1 in rice increased the expression of other LEA genes, including RAB16A, RAB16C, RAB21, and LEA3, likely protecting organ integrity against harsh environments. Interestingly, the elevated level of OsEm1 had no different phenotype compared with wild type under normal condition. Our findings suggest that OsEm1 is a positive regulator of drought tolerance and is potentially promising for engineering drought tolerance in rice.
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioremediation of Soil Contamination, School of Agriculture and Food Science, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, 88 Huanbei Road, Hangzhou 311300, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, 88 Huanbei Road, Hangzhou 311300, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioremediation of Soil Contamination, School of Agriculture and Food Science, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, 88 Huanbei Road, Hangzhou 311300, China.
authors.forename: Yongmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioremediation of Soil Contamination, School of Agriculture and Food Science, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, 88 Huanbei Road, Hangzhou 311300, China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioremediation of Soil Contamination, School of Agriculture and Food Science, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, 88 Huanbei Road, Hangzhou 311300, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioremediation of Soil Contamination, School of Agriculture and Food Science, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, 88 Huanbei Road, Hangzhou 311300, China. Electronic address: guock@zafu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Changkui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000040:Abscisic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D060054:Agrobacterium / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003080:Cold Temperature; D055864:Droughts; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012275:Oryza / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055049:Salt Tolerance; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; C066246:late embryogenesis abundant protein, plant; C102591:Rab16A protein, Oryza sativa; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D000040:Abscisic Acid
keywords: Drought; Late embryogenesis abundant protein (LEA); OsEm1; Rice