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The Q-type C2H2 zinc finger subfamily of transcription factors in Triticum aestivum is predominantly expressed in roots and enriched with members containing an EAR repressor motif and responsive to drought stress

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Abstract

Q-type C2H2 zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) form a subfamily of transcription factors that contain a plant-specific QALGGH amino acid motif. A total of 47 expressed Q-type C2H2 zinc finger genes in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) (designated TaZFP) were identified from the current databases. Protein sequence analysis for the presence of ERF-associated amphiphilic repressor (EAR) motif sequences from known transcriptional repressors revealed that 26% of the TaZFP subfamily members contain an EAR motif. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of the mRNA distribution of 44 TaZFP genes in various organs revealed that 30 genes were predominantly expressed in the roots. The majority of the TaZFP genes showed significant changes in their mRNA levels during leaf development and aging. Expression of 37 TaZFP genes in the leaves and roots responded to drought stress at least in one organ with 74% of the drought-responsive TaZFP genes being down-regulated in the drought-stressed roots. In contrast, only 6 out of the 44 TaZFP genes showed expression changes in the leaves with sucrose treatment. Expression of 50% of the drought-responsive TaZFP genes in the leaves (16 genes analysed) did not respond to ABA treatment, indicating that some TaZFP genes are involved in ABA-independent signalling pathways. These results indicate that the Q-type TaZFP subfamily is likely to have an important role in wheat roots and is enriched with members that are potentially involved in regulating cellular activities during changes of the physiological status of plant cells, as it occurs during drought stress or leaf development/aging.

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Abbreviations

ABA:

Abscisic acid

AEL:

Apparent expression level

C2H2 :

Cysteine2/Histidine2

EAR:

ERF-associated amphiphilic repression

ZFP:

C2H2 zinc finger protein

TaZFP:

Triticum aestivum ZFP

TaGI:

Triticum aestivum gene index

RWC:

Relative water content

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Acknowledgements

Authors are grateful to Troy Stephenson for his help in phylogenetic analysis and Dr. Kemal Kazan for his valuable suggestion in EAR motifs. The work was supported by the Australian Grains Research & Development Corporation.

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  1. CSIRO Plant Industry, 306 Carmody Road, St. Lucia, QLD, 4067, Australia

    Jason Kam, Ray Shorter & Gang-Ping Xue

  2. ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Legume Research, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia

    Jason Kam & Peter M. Gresshoff

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Kam, J., Gresshoff, P.M., Shorter, R. et al. The Q-type C2H2 zinc finger subfamily of transcription factors in Triticum aestivum is predominantly expressed in roots and enriched with members containing an EAR repressor motif and responsive to drought stress. Plant Mol Biol 67, 305–322 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11103-008-9319-3

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