OsDREB2A, a rice transcription factor, significantly affects salt tolerance in transgenic soybean

PLoS One. 2013 Dec 20;8(12):e83011. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083011. eCollection 2013.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cold Temperature
  • Dehydration
  • Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*
  • Glycine max / drug effects
  • Glycine max / genetics*
  • Glycine max / metabolism
  • Oryza / drug effects
  • Oryza / genetics*
  • Oryza / metabolism
  • Plant Proteins / genetics*
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Protein Binding
  • Response Elements
  • Salinity
  • Salt Tolerance / genetics*
  • Sodium Chloride / pharmacology
  • Stress, Physiological / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Plant Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Sodium Chloride

Grants and funding

This work was supported, in part, by grants from National Key Project for Research on Transgenic Biology in China (2014ZX0800921B-002), the China Agricultural Research System (CARS-04-PS09), National Key Project for Research on Transgenic Biology in China (2011ZX08004-002-003) and the Scientific and Technological Planning Project of Guandong Province (2009A020102004). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.