Molecular cloning, promoter analysis, and expression profile of VvERF3b gene in Vitis vinifera

Abstract

Ethylene response factors (ERFs) are involved in many plant development events and stress defenses. In this study, an ERF gene, VvERF3b, was cloned from the leaves of Vitis vinifera. VvERF3b belongs to ERF group VIIIa. Expression of the gene was induced by abscisic acid, ethephon, and salicylic acid, but not by NaCl. Promoter sequence analysis of the VvERF3b gene revealed that there are several potential cis-acting elements that may be potentially recognized and bound by the transcription factors related to hormones and stress responses. Deletion analysis showed that the 5'-flanking sequence of -1047 to -585 from the transcriptional start site is essential to the high expression of the VvERF3b gene, whereas the sequence fragment of -1324 to -1047 revealed suppression effect. The result indicated that the region appears to contain cis-acting elements that can be bound by the proteins in a transcription complex to induce the inhibition of gene expression.