An abiotic stress-responsive bZIP transcription factor from wild and cultivated tomatoes regulates stress-related genes

Abstract

Wild relatives of cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) are resistant to a wide range of abiotic and biotic stress conditions. In an effort to understand the molecular mechanisms of salt stress resistance in the wild and cultivated Solanum species, a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor was identified in S. chilense, S. peruvianum and S. lycopersicum and named ScAREB1, SpAREB1 and SlAREB1, respectively. Deduced amino acid sequences of the three proteins are 97% identical among them and present high homology with the ABF/AREB subfamily of transcription factors described in different plant species, including Arabidopsis (ABF2, 54% identical) and tobacco (PHI-2, 50% identical). Expression of these orthologous genes is upregulated similarly in the three species by salt stress. The expression of SlAREB1 was further investigated in S. lycopersicum and found to be induced by drought, cold and abscisic acid. To investigate the possible role of this transcription factor in response to abiotic stress, a simple transient expression assay was used for rapid analysis of genes regulated by SlAREB1 in tomato and tobacco by means of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Tobacco leaves expressing SlAREB1 showed upregulation of stress-responsive genes such as RD29B, the LEA genes ERD10B and TAS14, the transcription factor PHI-2 and a trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase gene. These results suggest that this class of bZIP plays a role in abiotic stress response in the Solanum genus.

Tomato tolerance to abiotic stress: a review of most often engineered target sequences

“…AREBs were recognized to be engaged in response to abiotic stress in Solanum genus (Yanez et al 2009). It was reported that the expression of TF encoding gene, SlAREB, in tomato and tobacco leaves upregulated the expression of stress-responsive genes, including the LEA genes, RD29B gene and trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatising gene.…”

“…It was reported that the expression of TF encoding gene, SlAREB, in tomato and tobacco leaves upregulated the expression of stress-responsive genes, including the LEA genes, RD29B gene and trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatising gene. In further studies, it was proved that genetically modified tomato plants with overexpression of SlAREB1 showed improved tolerance to water and salt stress (Yanez et al 2009;Hsieh et al 2010;Orellana et al 2010). Similarly, the cytokinin response factors (CRFs), a subgroup of AP2/ERF transcription factors, were shown to take part in tomato response to diverse abiotic stresses, including oxidative, flooding, osmotic, temperature and drought ones.…”

Genomic identification of group A bZIP transcription factors and their responses to abiotic stress in carrot

“…bZIP TFs are important in the response of plants to abiotic stress (Yáñez et al, 2009). In Arabidopsis, this TF family has been divided into ten (A-I and S) groups according to their DNAbinding domain (Jakoby et al, 2002).…”

“…The basic-region/leucine-zipper (bZIP) TF family, for example, performs significant functions in resisting abiotic stresses (Yáñez et al, 2009). The bZIP TFs are one of the most conserved proteins present in all eukaryotes (Riechmann et al, 2000).…”

Expression of LHC Genes and their Relation to Photo-Oxidative Stress Tolerance Tolerance in Solanum lycopersicum L. and Solanum chilense (Dunal) Reiche

“…In this context, the native species Solanum chilense (Dunal) Reiche, with proven tolerance to several abiotic stress conditions (Maldonado et al, 2003;Venema et al, 2005;Tapia, 2005;Yáñez et al, 2009) becomes as potential germplasm source.…”