Cloning and Functional Analysis of a Novel DREB1/CBF Transcription Factor Involved in Cold-Responsive Gene Expression in Zea mays L.

Abstract

;The transcription factors DREB1s/CBFs specifically interact with the DRE/CRT cis-acting element (core motif: G/ACCGAC) and control the expression of many stressinducible genes in Arabidopsis. We isolated a cDNA for a DREB1/CBF homolog, ZmDREB1A in maize using a yeast one-hybrid system. The ZmDREB1A proteins specifically bound to DRE and the highly conserved valine at the 14th residue in the ERF/AP2 DNA binding domain was a key to determining the specific interaction between this protein and the DRE sequence. Expression of ZmDREB1A was induced by cold stress and slightly increased by highsalinity stress. This gene was also transiently expressed by mechanical attack. ZmDREB1A activated the transcription of the GUS reporter gene driven by DRE in rice protoplasts. Overexpression of ZmDREB1A in transgenic Arabidopsis induced overexpression of target stress-inducible genes of Arabidopsis DREB1A resulting in plants with higher tolerance to drought and freezing stresses. This indicated that ZmDREB1A has functional similarity to DREB1s/CBFs in Arabidopsis. The structure of the ERF/ AP2 domain of ZmDREB1A in maize is closely related to DREB1-type ERF/AP2 domains in the monocots as compared with that in the dicots. ZmDREB1A is suggested to be potentially useful for producing transgenic plants that is tolerant to drought, high-salinity and/or cold stresses.

Cloning and characterization of cold, salt and drought inducible C-repeat binding factor gene from a highly cold adapted ecotype of Lepidium latifolium L.

“…Adequate amount of LlCBF transcript was still observed even after 24 h and 48 h of exposure. Similarly, OsDREB1A/CBF3 and ZmDREB1A were also found to induce by cold within a period of 40 min and 60 min, respectively, and remain detectable even at 24 h after exposure to cold stress (Dubouzet et al 2003;Qin et al 2004).…”

“…DREB2-like genes, belong to the A-2 subgroup, are mainly involved in regulation of genes responsive to osmotic stress (Sakuma et al 2002;Nakashima and Yamaguchi-Shinozaki 2006). Arabidopsis homologs of DREB1/CBF genes have been isolated and characterised in evolutionarily diverse plants with different levels of adaptation to cold stress such as, common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), rice (Oryza sativa L.), rye (Secale cereale L.), maize (Zea mays L.), canola (Brassica napus), etc., and overexpression of DREB1/CBF genes in transgenic plants increases tolerance to drought, high salt, and freezing stresses (Dubouzet et al 2003;Shen et al 2003;Qin et al 2004;Zhang et al 2004a;Hong and Kim 2005;Benedict et al 2006;Zhao et al 2006;Chinnusamy et al 2010). So, CBF genes may be useful for improving the stress tolerance of crops (Yamaguchi- .…”

Global analysis of gene expression in maize leaves treated with low temperature. II. Combined effect of severe cold (8 °C) and circadian rhythm

“…These three TFs are components of the CBF/DREB pathway engaged in the A. thaliana response to cold. In maize, ZmDREB1A was found as part of an ABA-independent pathway of cold signaling (Qin et al 2004), while CBF1 and ZmDREB2A were parts of an ABA-dependent pathway (Qin et al 2007), indicating that also in maize the cold-stress signal transduction is CBF-dependent (Sharma et al 2005). …”

Plant Abiotic Stress: Insights from the Genomics Era

“…DREB1/CBF expression may be important for avoiding plant growth retardation by the accumulation of DREB1/CBF proteins under unstressed conditions (Kidokoro et al, 2009). Downregulation occurs through a complex network of transcription factors, such as ZAT12 downregulating CBF2 (Vogel et al, 2005), and MYB15 interacting with ICE1, subsequently binding to the MYB recognition sequences in the CBF promoters The CBF pathway is not only present in dicots such as Arabidopsis, but is widespread through monocots and multiple plant genera, including those native to warm regions and not inherently cold tolerant, with variation in CBF gene copy numbers (Qin et al, 2004, Skinner et al, 2006, Badawi et al, 2007, Stockinger et al, 2007, Tamura et al, 2007, , Pennycooke et al, 2008, Knox et al, 2010. A recent paper by one of the pioneers of the field presents a detailed overview of the status of CBF research today (Thomashow, 2010)., and readers wishing for further detail are directed to this review Alternative cold tolerance pathways also initiate transcription of cold-responsive genes, for example Arabidopsis SFR2 encodes a novel β-glycosidase, contributing to freezing tolerance and distinct from the CBF pathway (Thorlby et al, 2004).…”