Overexpression of MpCYS2, a phytocystatin gene from Malus prunifolia (Willd.) Borkh., confers drought tolerance and protects against oxidative stress in Arabidopsis

Autor: Yanxiao Tan, Mingjun Li, Fengwang Ma
Rok vydání: 2015
Předmět:
Zdroj: Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC). 123:15-27
ISSN: 1573-5044
0167-6857
DOI: 10.1007/s11240-015-0809-0
Popis: Cystatins, or phytocystatins, are plant-specific inhibitors of cysteine proteinases that help regulate endogenous processes and protect plants against heat, salinity, cold, water deficits, chilling, and abscisic acid treatment. MpCYS2, a cystatin gene from Malus prunifolia, localized to the nucleus, cytoplasm, and plasma membrane in onion epidermal cells. Controlled by the 35S promoter, its ectopic expression in transgenic Arabidopsis lines caused accelerated seed germination and greater seedling growth when plants were exposed to osmotic or oxidative stress. Expression by this gene was also associated with enhanced drought tolerance in those transgenics. This positive response was manifested by changes measured in electrolyte leakage, the chlorophyll concentration, and malondialdehyde accumulations. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was appreciably decreased in the dehydration-treated transgenic lines. This gene also influenced root hair development under osmotic-stress conditions. Our findings indicate that MpCYS2 affects the growth and tolerance of drought-stressed Arabidopsis plants possibly because of its influence on ROS accumulations and root hair formation.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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