Статья

Genome-Wide Analysis of ZmDREB Genes and Their Association with Natural Variation in Drought Tolerance at Seedling Stage of Zea mays L

Shengxue LiuKey Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China ; Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaXianglan WangGraduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaHongwei WangGraduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaHaibo XinKey Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaXiaohong YangNational Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agricultural University, Beijing, ChinaJianbing YanNational Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, ChinaJiansheng LiNational Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agricultural University, Beijing, ChinaLam‐Son Phan TranSignaling Pathway Research Unit, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, JapanKazuo ShinozakiGene Discovery Research Group, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, JapanKazuko Yamaguchi‐ShinozakiLaboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, JapanFeng QinKey Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

2013en

ABI

Аннотация

The worldwide production of maize (Zea mays L.) is frequently impacted by water scarcity and as a result, increased drought tolerance is a priority target in maize breeding programs. While DREB transcription factors have been demonstrated to play a central role in desiccation tolerance, whether or not natural sequence variations in these genes are associated with the phenotypic variability of this trait is largely unknown. In the present study, eighteen ZmDREB genes present in the maize B73 genome were cloned and systematically analyzed to determine their phylogenetic relationship, synteny with rice, maize and sorghum genomes; pattern of drought-responsive gene expression, and protein transactivation activity. Importantly, the association between the nucleic acid variation of each ZmDREB gene with drought tolerance was evaluated using a diverse population of maize consisting of 368 varieties from tropical and temperate regions. A significant association between the genetic variation of ZmDREB2.7 and drought tolerance at seedling stage was identified. Further analysis found that the DNA polymorphisms in the promoter region of ZmDREB2.7, but not the protein coding region itself, was associated with different levels of drought tolerance among maize varieties, likely due to distinct patterns of gene expression in response to drought stress. In vitro, protein-DNA binding assay demonstrated that ZmDREB2.7 protein could specifically interact with the target DNA sequences. The transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing ZmDREB2.7 displayed enhanced tolerance to drought stress. Moreover, a favorable allele of ZmDREB2.7, identified in the drought-tolerant maize varieties, was effective in imparting plant tolerance to drought stress. Based upon these findings, we conclude that natural variation in the promoter of ZmDREB2.7 contributes to maize drought tolerance, and that the gene and its favorable allele may be an important genetic resource for the genetic improvement of drought tolerance in maize.

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Идентификаторы

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003790

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Цитирований: 2Использованных источников: 0

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