Abstract
The dehydration responsive element binding (DREB) transcription factors play an important role in regulating stress-related genes. OsDREB2A, a member of the DREBP subfamily of AP2/ERF transcription factors in rice (Oryza sativa), is involved in the abiotic stress response. OsDREB2A expression is induced by drought, low-temperature and salt stresses. Here, we report the ability of OsDREB2A to regulate high-salt response in transgenic soybean. Overexpressing OsDREB2A in soybeans enhanced salt tolerance by accumulating osmolytes, such as soluble sugars and free proline, and improving the expression levels of some stress-responsive transcription factors and key genes. The phenotypic characterization of transgenic soybean were significantly better than those of wild-type (WT). Electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA) revealed that the OsDREB2A can bind to the DRE core element in vitro. These results indicate that OsDREB2A may participate in abiotic stress by directly binding with DRE element to regulate the expression of downstream genes. Overexpression of OsDREB2A in soybean might be used to improve tolerance to salt stress.
Highlights
Adverse environmental conditions, such as high-salt and drought, affect plant growth and productivity
dehydration responsive element binding (DREB) genes cloned from Oryza sativa include OsDREB1A to OsDREB1G, OsDREB2A, and OsDREB2B, only OsDREB1A, OsDREB1E, OsDREB1G, OsDREB2A, and OsDREB2B can bind to dehydration responsive element (DRE) elements [12,13,14]
DREB2 are involved in drought and salt stresses but not in cold stress while DREB1/CBF-type transcription factors function in response to cold stress in another ABAindependent pathway [7,11,17,29]
Summary
Adverse environmental conditions, such as high-salt and drought, affect plant growth and productivity. Transcription factors play an important role in upstream gene regulation of plant stress response pathways [1]. AP2/EREBP transcription factor genes are involved in many plant functions including growth, hormone signal transduction, pathogen responses, and responses to stresses such as drought and salt. They are characterized by the presence of the highly conserved AP2/EREBP DNA-binding domain of about 58 or 59 amino acid residues, the AP2/ERF domains bind to the dehydration responsive element (DRE) or GCC-box [3,5]. Overexpressions of DREB orthologs in Arabidopsis and Oryza sativa result in improved resistance to abiotic stresses, such as salt and drought [6,12,13]
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