Abstract
Plant calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) were reported to play important roles in plant resistance to abiotic stress. Foxtail millet cultivation “H138” was used for RNA-seq analysis. The data from drought-induced de novo transcriptomic sequences of foxtail millet showed that CDPKs were up- or down-regulated by drought to different degrees. In this study, 29 foxtail millet CDPKs were classified into four subgroups. These genes were unevenly distributed on nine foxtail millet chromosomes, and chromosomes 2, 3, and 9 contained the most SiCDPK members. Analysis of putative cis-acting elements showed that most foxtail millet CDPK genes contained the ABRE, LTR, HSE, MYB, MYC, DRE, CGTCA-motif, and TGACG-motif cis-acting elements, which could be activated by abiotic stresses. Real-time PCR analysis indicated that 29 SiCDPK genes experienced different degrees of induction under drought and ABA stresses. SiCDPK24 had the highest expression levels at 6 and 12 h of drought treatment and was chosen for further analysis. SiCDPK24 localized to the cell membrane and the nucleus of Arabidopsis mesophyll protoplasts. Western blot analysis showed that SiCDPK24 protein had autophosphorylation activity. Overexpression of SiCDPK24 in Arabidopsis enhanced drought resistance and improved the survival rate under drought stress. It also activated the expressions of nine stress-related genes, namely RD29A, RD29B, RD22, KIN1, COR15, COR47, LEA14, CBF3/DREB1A, and DREB2A. These genes are involved in resistance to abiotic stresses in Arabidopsis. These results indicate that foxtail millet CDPK genes play important roles in resisting drought stress.
Highlights
Abiotic stresses, such as heat, cold, drought, and salt, often affect plant growth and metabolic processes, and can dramatically reduce crop yield
We performed BLAST-P searches in NCBI and the published foxtail millet genome (JGI Glyma1.0 annotation), and a total of 29 Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) from foxtail millet were identified by using Arabidopsis and rice CDPK sequences as query sequences
Cluster analysis, which was in accord with the evolutionary relationships, indicated that foxtail millet, rice, and Arabidopsis CDPKs were divided into four clusters
Summary
Abiotic stresses, such as heat, cold, drought, and salt, often affect plant growth and metabolic processes, and can dramatically reduce crop yield. SiCDPK24 Enhances Drought Resistance the biosynthesis of various osmoprotectants, late embryogenesis abundant and glutathione S-transferase proteins are induced in plants to counteract the environmental damage (Saijo et al, 2000). Transferring these genes into plants can be used to verify the important roles of induced stress-responsive genes in resisting abiotic stresses (Holmberg and Bülow, 1998). They contain a variable N-terminal domain (often with myristoylation or palmitoylation sites associated with subcellular targeting), a conserved serine/threonine kinase domain, and an auto-inhibitory junction region (Cheng et al, 2002)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
