Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Activity of the Arabidopsis RD29A and RD29B promoter elements in soybean under water stress

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Planta Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The constitutive and drought-induced activities of the Arabidopsis thaliana RD29A and RD29B promoters were monitored in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.] via fusions with the visual marker gene β-glucuronidase (GUS). Physiological responses of soybean plants were monitored over 9 days of water deprivation under greenhouse conditions. Data were used to select appropriate time points to monitor the activities of the respective promoter elements. Qualitative and quantitative assays for GUS expression were conducted in root and leaf tissues, from plants under well-watered and dry-down conditions. Both RD29A and RD29B promoters were significantly activated in soybean plants subjected to dry-down conditions. However, a low level of constitutive promoter activity was also observed in both root and leaves of plants under well-watered conditions. GUS expression was notably higher in roots than in leaves. These observations suggest that the respective drought-responsive regulatory elements present in the RD29X promoters may be useful in controlling targeted transgenes to mitigate abiotic stress in soybean, provided the transgene under control of these promoters does not invoke agronomic penalties with leaky expression when no abiotic stress is imposed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

ABA:

Abscisic acid

ABRE:

Abscisic acid-response element

A net :

Net photosynthesis (μ mol m−2 s−1)

CBF:

Cold-binding factor

CRD:

Completely randomized design

DRE:

Dehydration-response element

DREB:

Dehydration-response element-binding protein

E :

Transpiration (mmol m−2 s−1)

g s :

Stomatal conductance (mol m−2 s−1)

GUS:

β-glucuronidase

PAR:

Photosynthetically active radiation (μ mol m−2 s−1)

SVWC:

Soil volumetric water content (%)

WUE:

Water use efficiency

Ψw :

Water potential (MPa)

References

  • Behnam B, Kikuchi A, Celebi-Toprak F, Kasuga M, Yamaguchi-Shinozaki K, Watanabe KN (2007) Arabidopsis rd29A:DREB1A enhances freezing tolerance in transgenic potato. Plant Cell Rep 26:1275–1282

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bihmidine S, Bryan NM, Payne KR, Parde KR, Okalebe JA, Cooperstein SE, Awada T (2010) Photosynthetic performance of invasive Pinus ponderosa and Juniperus virginiana seedlings under gradual soil water depletion. Plant Biol 12:668–675

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Celebi-Toprak F, Behnam B, Serrano G, Kauga M, Yamaguchi-Shinozaki K, Naka H, Watanabe JA, Yamanaka S, Watanabe KN (2005) Tolerance to salt stress of the transgenic tetrasomic tetraploid potato, Solanum tuberosum cv. Desiree appears to be induced by the DREB1A gene and rd29A promoter of Arabidopsis thaliana. Breed Sci 55:311–319

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chaves M, Davies B (2010) Drought effects and water use efficiency: improving crop production in dry environments. Funct Plant Biol 37:3–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Das M, Chauhan H, Chhibbar A, Mohd Q, Haq R, Khurana P (2011) High-efficiency transformation and selective tolerance against biotic and abiotic stress in mulberry, Morus indica cv. K2, by constitutive and inducible expression of tobacco osmotin. Transgenic Res 20:231–246

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dellaporta SL, Wood J, Hicks JB (1983) A plant DNA minipreparation: version II. Plant Mol Biol Repot 1:19–21

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ditta G, Stanfield S, Corbin D, Helinski D (1980) Broad host range DNA cloning system for gram-negative bacteria: construction of gene bank of Rhizobium meliloti. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 77:7347–7351

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eckert H, LaVallee B, Schweiger BJ, Kinney AJ, Cahoon EB, Clemente T (2006) Co-expression of the borage Delta6 desaturase and the Arabidopsis Delta15 desaturase results in high accumulation of stearidonic acid in the seeds of transgenic soybean. Planta 224:1050–1057

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Espasandin F, Collavino M, Luna C, Paz R, Tarragó J, Ruiz O, Mroginski L, Sansberro P (2010) Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of Lotus tenuis and regeneration of transgenic lines. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult 102:181–189

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fehr WR, Caviness CE (1979) Stages of soybean development. Cooperation extension service. Iowa State University 80, pp 1–12

  • Hsieh T-H, Lee J-T, Charng Y-Y, Chan M-T (2002) Tomato plants ectopically expressing Arabidopsis CBF1 show enhanced resistance to water deficit stress. Plant Physiol 130:618–626

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jefferson RA (1987) Assaying chimeric genes in plants: the GUS gene fusion system. Plant Mol Biol Report 5:387–405

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jefferson RA, Kavanagh TA, Bevan MV (1987) GUS fusions: β-glucuronidase as a sensitive and versatile gene fusion marker in higher plants. EMBO J 6:3901–3907

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karim S, Aronsson H, Ericson H, Pirhonen M, Leyman B, Welin B, Mäntylä E, Palva ET, Van Dijck P, Holmström K-O (2007) Improved drought tolerance without undesired side effects in transgenic plants producing trehalose. Plant Mol Biol 64:371–386

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kasuga M, Liu Q, Mirura S, Yamaguchi-Shinozaki K, Shinozaki K (1999) Improving plant drought, salt, and freezing tolerance by gene transfer of a single stress-inducible transcription factor. Nat Biotechnol 17:287–291

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kasuga M, Miura S, Shinozaki K, Yamaguchi-Shinozaki K (2004) Combination of the Arabidopsis DREB1A gene and stress-inducible rd29A promoter improved drought- and low-temperature stress tolerance in tobacco by gene transfer. Plant Cell Physiol 45:346–350

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Q, Kasuga M, Sakuma Y, Abe H, Miura S, Yamaguchi-Shinozaki K, Shinozaki K (1998) Two transcription factors, DREB1 and DREB2, with an EREBP/AP2 DNA binding domain separate two cellular signal transduction pathways in drought-and low-temperature-responsive gene expression, respectively, in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell 10:1391–1406

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luo Z-Q, Clemente T, Farrand SK (2001) Construction of a derivative of Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58 that does not mutate to tetracycline resistance. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 14:98–103

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mahajan S, Tuteja N (2005) Cold, salinity and drought stresses: an overview. Arch Biochem Biophys 444:139–158

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manavalan LP, Guttikonda SK, Tran LSP, Nguyen HT (2009) Physiological and molecular approaches to improve drought resistance in soybean. Plant Cell Physiol 50:1260–1276

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Msanne J, Lin J, Stone JM, Awada T (2011) Characterization of abiotic stress-responsive Arabidopsis thaliana RD29A and RD29B genes and evaluation of transgenes. Planta 234:97–107

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakashima K, Fujita Y, Katsura K, Maruyama K, Narusaka Y, Seki M, Yamaguchi-Shinozaki K (2006) Transcriptional regulation of ABI3-and ABA-responsive genes including RD29B and RD29A in seeds, germinating embryos, and seedlings of Arabidopsis. Plant Mol Biol 60:51–68

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Palanichelvam K, Oger P, Clough SJ, Cha C, Bent AF, Farrand SK (2000) A second T-region of the soybean-supervirulent chrysopine-type Ti plasmid pTiChry5, and construction of a fully disarmed vir helper plasmid. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 13:1081–1091

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pellegrineschi A, Reynolds M, Pacheco M, Brito RM, Almeraya R, Yamaguchi-Shinozaki K, Hoisington D (2004) Stress-induced expression in wheat of the Arabidopsis thaliana DREB1A gene delays water stress symptoms under greenhouse conditions. Genome 47:493–500

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pino MT, Skinner JS, Park EJ, Jeknic Z, Hayes PM, Thomashow MF, Chen THH (2007) Use of a stress inducible promoter to drive ectopic AtCBF expression improves potato freezing tolerance while minimizing negative effects on tuber yield. Plant Biotechnol J 5:591–604

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rai M, He C, Wu R (2009) Comparative functional analysis of three abiotic stress-inducible promoters in transgenic rice. Transgenic Res 18:787–799

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ries LL, Purcell LC, Carter TEJ, Edwards JT, King CA (2012) Physiological traits contributing to differential canopy wilting in soybean under drought. Crop Sci 52:272–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russell DA, Fromm ME (1997) Tissue-specific expression in transgenic maize of four endosperm promoters from maize and rice. Transgenic Res 6:157–168

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singer SD, Cox KD, Liu Z (2011) Enhancer-promoter interference and its prevention in transgenic plants. Plant Cell Rep 30:723–731

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Specht JE, Chase K, Macrander M, Graef GL, Chung J, Markwell JP, Germann M, Orf JH, Lark KG (2001) Soybean response to water: a QTL analysis of drought tolerance. Crop Sci 41:493–509

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilcox JR (2004) World distribution and trade of soybean. In: Boerma HR, Specht JE (eds) Soybeans: improvement, production and uses. ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Madison, pp 1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamaguchi-Shinozaki K, Shinozaki K (1993a) Arabidopsis DNA encoding two desiccation-responsive rd29 genes. Plant Physiol 101:1119–1120

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamaguchi-Shinozaki K, Shinozaki K (1993b) Characterization of the expression of a desiccation-responsive rd29 gene of Arabidopsis thaliana and analysis of its promoter in transgenic plants. Mol Gen Genet 236:331–340

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamaguchi-Shinozaki K, Shinozaki K (1994) A novel cis-acting element in an Arabidopsis gene is involved in responsiveness to drought, low-temperature, or high-salt stress. Plant Cell 6:251–264

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamaguchi-Shinozaki K, Koisumi M, Urao S, Shinozaki K (1992) Molecular cloning and characterization of 9 cDNAs genes that are responsive to desiccation in Arabidopsis thaliana: sequence analysis of one cDNA clone that encodes a putative transmembrane channel protein. Plant Cell Physiol 33:217–224

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z, Xing A, Staswick PE, Clemente TE (1999) The use of glufosinate as a selective agent in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of soybean. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult 56:37–46

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by funds proved by The Nebraska Soybean Board; an Interdisciplinary Research Program Grant, Agriculture Research Division, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL); The Center for Plant Science Innovation, and The Center for Biotechnology, UNL. The authors would also like to thank the staff within Beadle Greenhouse Facility and the Plant Transformation Core Research Facility for assistance in care and establishment of transgenic soybeans described in the studies.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA

    Saadia Bihmidine & Tala Awada

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Redox Biology Center and Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA

    Jiusheng Lin & Julie M. Stone

  3. Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA

    James E. Specht

  4. Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA

    Tom E. Clemente

Authors
  1. Saadia Bihmidine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jiusheng Lin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Julie M. Stone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tala Awada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. James E. Specht
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Tom E. Clemente
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tom E. Clemente.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bihmidine, S., Lin, J., Stone, J.M. et al. Activity of the Arabidopsis RD29A and RD29B promoter elements in soybean under water stress. Planta 237, 55–64 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-012-1740-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-012-1740-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation