Abstract
BackgroundActin depolymerizing factors (ADFs) are small actin-binding proteins. Many higher-plant ADFs has been known to involve in plant growth, development and pathogen defense. However, in rice the temporal and spatial expression of OsADF gene family and their relationship with abiotic stresses tolerance is still unknown.ResultsHere we reported the first comprehensive gene expression profile analysis of OsADF gene family. The OsADF genes showed distinct and overlapping gene expression patterns at different growth stages, tissues and abiotic stresses. We also demonstrated that both OsADF1 and OsADF3 proteins were localized in the nucleus. OsADF1 and OsADF3 were preferentially expressed in vascular tissues. Under ABA or abiotic stress treatments, OsADF3::GUS activity was enhanced in lateral roots and root tips. Ectopically overexpressed OsADF3 conferred the mannitol- and drought-stress tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis seedlings by increasing germination rate, primary root length and survival. Several drought-tolerance responsive genes (RD22, ABF4, DREB2A, RD29A, PIP1; 4 and PIP2; 6) were upregulated in transgenic Arabidopsis under drought stress.ConclusionsThese results suggested that OsADF gene family may participate in plant abiotic stresses response or tolerance and would facilitate functional validation of other OsADF genes.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1939-8433-5-33) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Actin depolymerizing factors (ADFs) are small actin-binding proteins
We investigated rice microarray data downloaded from Gene expression omnibus (GEO) (Accession No GSE6901 and GSE6893) to gain insight into the transcript levels of different members of OsADFs in various tissues and abiotic stresses
By ectopically expressing OsADF3 gene in Arabidopsis, we investigated the responses of transgenic plants to various abiotic stresses
Summary
Actin depolymerizing factors (ADFs) are small actin-binding proteins. Many higher-plant ADFs has been known to involve in plant growth, development and pathogen defense. In rice the temporal and spatial expression of OsADF gene family and their relationship with abiotic stresses tolerance is still unknown. Intracellular actin filament activity is modulated by a number of actin binding proteins such as profillin, actin depolymerizing factor (ADF)/cofilin, myosin, fibrin and villin. The temporal and spatial expression of higher-plant ADFs has gradually been deciphered, but not with rice OsADF gene family. In Arabidopsis, ADF gene expression can be separated into vegetative- and reproductivespecific classes (Ruzicka et al, 2007). Two classes of AtADFs may co-evolve in a tissue and developmental-specific manner and mediate distinct functions (Ruzicka et al, 2007). Intron-mediated enhancement of ADF gene expression was reported in vascular bundle tissue of Arabidopsis (AtADF1) and petunia (PhADF1) (Mun et al, 2002; Jeong et al, 2009)
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