The heterologous expression in Arabidopsis of a chrysanthemum Cys2/His2 zinc finger protein gene confers salinity and drought tolerance

Abstract

Zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) play an important role in plant growth and development. Here, we describe the isolation of CgZFP1, a Cys2/His2 (C(2)H(2)) ZFP gene, using RACE PCR from chrysanthemum, and the investigation of its function with ectopic expression in Arabidopsis. CgZFP1 contains two conserved C(2)H(2) regions, a nuclear localization domain (B box), a Leu-rich domain (L box) and a conserved DLN sequence (DLN box) close to its C-terminus. Its expression in the chrysanthemum leaf was strongly induced by salinity or drought, but not by ABA. Subcellular localization assay indicated that CgZFP1 protein is localized in nucleus in vivo. Yeast-one hybrid assay showed that CgZFP1 possesses transcriptional activation ability, heterologous expression of CgZFP1 conferred tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis plants to both salinity and drought stresses. Under salinity stress, genes involved in osmotic adjustment, ROS scavenging, and ion homeostasis: Atlea3, AtP5CS2, AtProT1, and AtMnSOD, AtPOD, AtAPX1, and AtSOS1, AtSOS2, AtSOS3, AtNHX1 were enhanced in CgZFP1 transgenic Arabidopsis plants. Moreover, genes involved in the osmotic adjustment and oxidative stress responses: Atlea3, AtP5CS2, AtProT1, the aquaporin AtPIP2A, and AtMnSOD, AtPOD, AtAPX1 were induced in CgZFP1 transgenic Arabidopsis under drought stress. These results indicate CgZFP1 is an important regulator involved in the salt and drought stress response in plants.

The Solanum lycopersicum Zinc Finger2 Cysteine-2/Histidine-2 Repressor-Like Transcription Factor Regulates Development and Tolerance to Salinity in Tomato and Arabidopsis

“…Increased MDA production as a result of SlZF2 ectopic expression accompanied induction of detoxification enzymes such as peroxidases, glutathione S-transferases, and ABC transporters. Expression of ROS scavenging genes such as Arabidopsis thaliana MANGANESE SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE, Arabidopsis thaliana PEROXIDASE, and Arabidopsis thaliana ASCORBATE PEROXIDASE1 is also significantly higher in Arabidopsis lines overexpressing CgZFP1, both under control conditions and under salinity constraints (Gao et al, 2012), and similar results have been described for Arabidopsis ZAT10 overexpressors (Mittler et al, 2006). The ROS scavenging system was thus already active in SlZF2 transgenic plants before salt stress onset (Fig.…”

“…However, the rice ZFP179 and the chrysanthemum CgZFP1do also present a DLN box in their C-terminal end and function as transcriptional activators in yeast (Sun et al, 2010;Gao et al, 2012). Likewise, overexpression of ZAT7 devoid of its C-terminal (ZAT7D) end also inhibited growth in Arabidopsis (Ciftci-Yilmaz et al, 2007).…”

“…In general, only few zinc finger proteins regulating osmotic stresses have been characterized in other plant species, specifically those holding the EAR motif. For instance, the chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum grandiflorum) C2H2 ZINC FINGER PROTEIN1 (CgZFP1) is up-regulated by salinity and drought, and its heterologous expression in Arabidopsis enhanced plant tolerance to both stresses (Gao et al, 2012). The potato (Solanum tuberosum) ZINC FINGER PROTEIN1 (StZFP1) is induced by drought and salinity, and its ectopic expression in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) enhances tolerance to salinity (Tian et al, 2010).…”

Chrysanthemum WRKY gene CmWRKY17 negatively regulates salt stress tolerance in transgenic chrysanthemum and Arabidopsis plants

“…For salinity tolerance evaluation, 3-week-old Col-0 and CmWRKY17-transgenic Arabidopsis plants with 90 of each lines were watered for 12 days at 4-day intervals, initially with 100 mM NaCl, then 200 mM NaCl, and finally with 300 mM NaCl before being scored and photographed following Gao et al (2012).…”

Characterization of RsMYB28 and RsMYB29 transcription factor genes in radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

“…Both the controls (positive control: pCL1 and negative control: pGBKT7) and the recombinant plasmids were transformed into Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain Y2HGold (Clontech, Palo Alto, CA, USA) (Gao et al, 2012). pCL1 transformants were selected on SD/-Leu medium, while the other transformed yeast strains were plated on SD/-Trp medium.…”