Cotton metallothionein GhMT3a, a reactive oxygen species scavenger, increased tolerance against abiotic stress in transgenic tobacco and yeast
Open Access
- 25 November 2008
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Journal of Experimental Botany
- Vol. 60 (1), 339-349
- https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/ern291
Abstract
A cDNA clone encoding a 64-amino acid type 3 metallothionein protein, designated GhMT3a, was isolated from cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) by cDNA library screening. Northern blot analysis indicated that mRNA accumulation of GhMT3a was up-regulated not only by high salinity, drought, and low temperature stresses, but also by heavy metal ions, abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cotton seedlings. Transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants overexpressing GhMT3a showed increased tolerance against abiotic stresses compared with wild-type plants. Interestingly, the induced expression of GhMT3a by salt, drought, and low-temperature stresses could be inhibited in the presence of antioxidants. H2O2 levels in transgenic tobacco plants were only half of that in wild-type (WT) plants under such stress conditions. According to in vitro assay, recombinant GhMT3a protein showed an ability to bind metal ions and scavenge ROS. Transgenic yeast overexpressing GhMT3a also showed higher tolerance against ROS stresses. Taken together, these results indicated that GhMT3a could function as an effective ROS scavenger and its expression could be regulated by abiotic stresses through ROS signalling.Keywords
This publication has 86 references indexed in Scilit:
- Examining the Specific Contributions of Individual Arabidopsis Metallothioneins to Copper Distribution and Metal TolerancePlant Physiology, 2008
- Characterization of transcription factor gene SNAC2 conferring cold and salt tolerance in ricePlant Molecular Biology, 2008
- Characteristic and Expression Analysis of a Metallothionein Gene, OsMT2b, Down-Regulated by Cytokinin Suggests Functions in Root Development and Seed Embryo Germination of RicePlant Physiology, 2008
- Double Mutants Deficient in Cytosolic and Thylakoid Ascorbate Peroxidase Reveal a Complex Mode of Interaction between Reactive Oxygen Species, Plant Development, and Response to Abiotic StressesPlant Physiology, 2007
- Theredox imbalancedMutants of Arabidopsis Differentiate Signaling Pathways for Redox Regulation of Chloroplast Antioxidant EnzymesPlant Physiology, 2007
- Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinases Regulate the Production of Reactive Oxygen Species by Potato NADPH OxidasePlant Cell, 2007
- Responses of Photosynthesis, Chlorophyll Fluorescence and ROS-Scavenging Systems to Salt Stress During Seedling and Reproductive Stages in RiceAnnals of Botany, 2007
- Zinc binding to a regulatory zinc-sensing domain monitored in vivo by using FRETProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2006
- Transcriptomic Footprints Disclose Specificity of Reactive Oxygen Species Signaling in ArabidopsisPlant Physiology, 2006
- SALT AND DROUGHT STRESS SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION IN PLANTSAnnual Review of Plant Biology, 2002