GsZFP1, a new Cys2/His2-type zinc-finger protein, is a positive regulator of plant tolerance to cold and drought stress

Abstract

Plant acclimation to environmental stress is controlled by a complex network of regulatory genes that compose distinct stress-response regulons. The C2H2-type zinc-finger proteins (ZFPs) have been implicated in different cellular processes involved in plant development and stress responses. Through microarray analysis, an alkaline (NaHCO(3))-responsive ZFP gene GsZFP1 was identified and subsequently cloned from Glyycine soja. GsZFP1 encodes a 35.14 kDa protein with one C2H2-type zinc-finger motif. The QALGGH domain, conserved in most plant C2H2-type ZFPs, is absent in the GsZFP1 protein sequence. A subcellular localization study using a GFP fusion protein indicated that GsZFP1 is localized to the nucleus. Real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that GsZFP1 was induced in the leaf by ABA (100 μM), salt (200 mM NaCl), and cold (4°C), and in the root by ABA (100 μM), cold (4°C), and drought (30% PEG 6000). Over-expression of GsZFP1 in transgenic Arabidopsis resulted in a greater tolerance to cold and drought stress, a decreased water loss rate, and an increase in proline irrespective of environmental conditions. The over-expression of GsZFP1 also increased the expression of a number of stress-response marker genes, including CBF1, CBF2, CBF3, NCED3, COR47, and RD29A in response to cold stress and RAB18, NCED3, P5CS, RD22, and RD29A in response to drought stress, especially early during stress treatments. Our studies suggest that GsZFP1 plays a crucial role in the plant response to cold and drought stress.

Drought stress tolerance mediated by zinc-induced antioxidative defense and osmotic adjustment in cotton (Gossypium Hirsutum)

“…And apart from involvement in oxidation and revival reactions and enzyme activating, Zn also plays main roles in regulation of protein synthesis and carbohydrates metabolism (Mousavi 2011). It's worth noting that the up-expression of zinc finger protein can increase Pro and SS accumulations in Arabidopsis and rice under water deficit (Xu et al 2008;Luo et al 2012). These previous evidences are conducive to explain our observations that SP and SS contents were all enhanced by supplemental Zn in cotton under PEG-6000 simulated drought stress (Fig.…”

“…Besides, findings have shown that Zn is closely related to oxidative stress-induced expression of genes encoding APX (Tsonev and Lidon 2012). It's worth noting that the cotton Cys2/His2-type zinc-finger protein is associated with the response to drought stress in plant (Li et al 2010;Luo et al 2012), and overexpression of zinc-finger proteins are related to antioxidative defense by enhancing antioxidant enzymes activities and decreasing accumulation of MDA in rice (Zhang et al , 2014. Therefore, the SOD, CAT and APX activities were enhanced by supplemental Zn in cotton leaves (Fig.…”

OsMSR15 encoding a rice C2H2-type zinc finger protein confers enhanced drought tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis

“…For example, transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing GsZFP1 are more tolerant to cold and drought stresses (Luo et al 2012). Strong induction of OsMSR15 expression by heat, cold and drought stresses suggests that this gene might be involved in stress tolerance.…”

Transcriptome profiling of the salt-stress response in Triticum aestivum cv. Kharchia Local

“…It has been already reported that WD-40 protein is expressed under salt stress in various plants such as BnSWD1 fromin Brassica napus 38, SRWD in Oryza sativa 39, SiWD40 in foxtail millet40 and WD40 repeat protein in Medicago trunculata 41. Other TFs like C2H2 have been reported to play important role in biological processes and various abiotic stresses, involving cold, drought, oxidative and salt stress in rice4243; cold and drought stress in soybean44 and osmotic, cold and mechanical stress in poplar45. This suggests that C2H2-ZFPs are likely to be associated with multiple physiological processes and stress responses in this salt tolerant land race of wheat also46.…”