At the mRNA level, different PIP2;1 aquaporin gene expressions in roots of drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive maize genotypes with sufficient substrate moisture, as well as their distinct responses towards water deficit, are shown. An analysis of the obtained data allow us to consider PIP2;1 expression as a possible molecular marker in maize breeding for drought tolerance.

We investigated the functioning and the gene expression of H + -ATPase in the microsomal fraction enri ched with plasmalemma vesicles isolated from roots of two Zea mays cultivars: Dostatok (drought resistant) and Pereyaslivskiy (moderately tolerant to drought). Both cultivars grew during 21 days under the optimal water supply (soil moisture -70 %, control) and during 10 days under the water deficit conditions (soil moisture -30 %, experiment). An increase in the H + -ATPase hydrolytic activity in both cultivars under the water stress has been detected under drought. The enzyme hydrolytic activity is increased by twice in Dostatok and by1.3 times in Pereyaslivskiy. The H + -ATPase gene expression levels in both cultivars also increased under water deficit. It is shown that, in roots of both maize cultivars, the increase of four isoforms of H + -ATPase gene expression correlates with the increase of the hydrolytic

No abstract

Plasmolemma permeability is an integral indicator of the functional state of plant cells under stress. Aquaporins (AQPs), specialized transmembrane proteins that form water channels and play an important role in the adaptation of plants to adverse conditions and, in particular, to lack or excess of water, are involved in the formation of the response to drought. The main function of AQPs is to facilitate the movement of water across cell membranes and maintain aqueous cell homeostasis. Under stressful conditions, there is both an increase and decrease in the expression of individual aquaporin genes. Analysis of the data revealed differences in the expression of AQPs genes in stable and sensitive plant genotypes. It turned out that aquaporins in different stress-resistant varieties of the same species also respond differently to drought. The review provides brief information on the history of the discovery of aquaporins, the structure and function of these proteins, summarizes the latest information on the role of aquaporins in the regulation of metabolism and the response of plants to stressors, with particular emphasis on aquaporins in drought protection. The discovery and study of AQPs expands the possibilities of using genetic engineering methods for the selection of new plant species, in particular, more resistant to drought and salinization of the soil, as well as to increase their productivity. The use of aquaporins in biotechnology to improve drought resistance of various species has many prospects.