Cloning and molecular characterization of a mitogen-activated protein kinase gene from Poncirus trifoliata whose ectopic expression confers dehydration/drought tolerance in transgenic tobacco.

ABSTRACT: The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade plays pivotal roles in diverse signalling pathways related to plant development and stress responses. In this study, the cloning and functional characterization of a group-I MAPK gene, PtrMAPK, in Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf are reported. PtrMAPK contains 11 highly conserved kinase domains and a phosphorylation motif (TEY), and is localized in the nucleus of transformed onion epidermal cells. The PtrMAPK transcript level was increased by dehydration and cold, but was unaffected by salt. Transgenic overexpression of PtrMAPK in tobacco confers dehydration and drought tolerance. The transgenic plants exhibited better water status, less reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and higher levels of antioxidant enzyme activity and metabolites

SUBMITTER: Huang XS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3193021 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature