title: A novel Zea mays ssp. mexicana L. MYC-type ICE-like transcription factor gene ZmmICE1, enhances freezing tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana.
abstract: The annual Zea mays ssp. mexicana L., a member of the teosinte group, is a close wild relative of maize and thus can be effectively used in maize improvement. In this study, an ICE-like gene, ZmmICE1, was isolated from a cDNA library of RNA-Seq from cold-treated seedling tissues of Zea mays ssp. mexicana L. The deduced protein of ZmmICE1 contains a highly conserved basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) domain and C-terminal region of ICE-like proteins. The ZmmICE1 protein localizes to the nucleus and shows sumoylation when expressed in an Escherichia coli reconstitution system. In addition, yeast one hybrid assays indicated that ZmmICE1 has transactivation activities. Moreover, ectopic expression of ZmmICE1 in the Arabidopsis ice1-2 mutant increased freezing tolerance. The ZmmICE1 overexpressed plants showed lower electrolyte leakage (EL), reduced contents of malondialdehyde (MDA). The expression of downstream cold related genes of Arabidopsis C-repeat-binding factors (AtCBF1, AtCBF2 and AtCBF3), cold-responsive genes (AtCOR15A and AtCOR47), kinesin-1 member gene (AtKIN1) and responsive to desiccation gene (AtRD29A) was significantly induced when compared with wild type under low temperature treatment. Taken together, these results indicated that ZmmICE1 is the homolog of Arabidopsis inducer of CBF expression genes (AtICE1/2) and plays an important role in the regulation of freezing stress response.
authors.affiliation: Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, PO Box 46, Kings Meadows, TAS 7249, Australia; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China; College of Pratacultural Science, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou 730070, China. Electronic address: Xiang.lu@utas.edu.au.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China. Electronic address: cricleno@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China. Electronic address: chelseaYMY@126.com.
authors.forename: Mengyuan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China. Electronic address: laijianbin@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jianbin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China. Electronic address: wangchao850304@163.com.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, PO Box 46, Kings Meadows, TAS 7249, Australia. Electronic address: david.mcneil@utas.edu.au.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McNeil
authors.affiliation: Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, PO Box 46, Kings Meadows, TAS 7249, Australia. Electronic address: meixue.zhou@utas.edu.au.
authors.forename: Meixue
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China; Dongli Planting and Farming Industrial Co., LTD, Lianzhou 513400, China. Electronic address: yangchw@scnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Chengwei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005615:Freezing; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011392:Proline / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D058207:Sumoylation / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D018749:RNA, Plant; D014157:Transcription Factors; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D011392:Proline
keywords: Freezing tolerance; Transcription factor; Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana; Zea mays ssp. mexicana L.; ZmmICE1