Cloning and expression analysis of ZmABI3 gene in Zea mays

Abstract

Abstract Objective ABI3 is a B3 domain transcription factor existed in various plant species. Studies showed that ABI3 play important role in plant growth and development. Methods The ZmABI3 gene was cloned by reverse transcription PCR. Expression analysis was done by quantitative real-time PCR after various abiotic stresses. Results One gene contained B3 domain was isolated from maize, designated as ZmABI3. The full cDNA sequence of ZmABI3 contains a 1017 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding 339 amino acids, and the calculated molecular mass was 37.19 kD. Phylogenetic tree analysis suggested that ZmABI3 clustered together with Brachypodium distachyon ABI3 protein. The promoter of ZmABI3 was cloned, which was about 948 bp upstream of ZmABI3 and predicted to contain important regulatory elements including TATA-box, CAAT-box and elements responding to drought, heat, cold, SA and MeJA. Conclusion A new gene contained a B3 domain was cloned and named as ZmABI3 from maize. Analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR, the expression of ZmABI3 in maize was induced by abiotic stresses included heat, high-salt, cold, PEG, heat stress and dehydration treatments, but not by ABA. These results suggested that ZmABI3 might be a stress related gene in maize.