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Identification of a novel mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase gene (MKK2) in the oilseed rape Brassica campestris

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Abstract

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades participate in various processes, including plant growth and development as well as biotic and abiotic stress responses. MAPK kinases (MKKs), which link MPKs and MPKK kinases, are involved in MAPK cascades by mediating various plant stress responses. However, only a few MKKs from Brassica campestris (rape) have been functionally characterized. This study delivers the results from isolation and characterization of a novel gene, MKK2, from rape. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the cDNA length of MKK2 is 1,344 bp with an open reading frame of 1,068 bp, which encodes a polypeptide containing 355 amino acids. The obtained MKK2 exhibited a predicted molecular mass of 39.3 kDa and an isoelectric point of 6.8. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that MKK2 expression can be induced by cold and salt. Western blot analysis revealed that MKK2 protein expression can be induced by cold, salt, and UV-B radiation. The MKK2 protein was localized in the nucleus. These results suggest that MKK2 is important for the regulation of cold- and salt-stress responses in plants.

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Abbreviations

GFP:

green fluorescent protein

MAPK (or MPK):

mitogen-activated protein kinase

MKKKs:

MAPKK kinases

MKKs:

MAPK kinases

MS:

Murashige and Skoog

qRT-PCR:

quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction

RACE:

rapid amplification of cDNA ends

TTBS:

Tween-Tris-buffered saline

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Sciences, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, 730070, People’s Republic of China

    Teng Guo Zhang, Yuan Yuan Wang, Juan Wang, Ning Yang & Ying Li Yang

  2. Lanzhou City University, Lanzhou, 730070, People’s Republic of China

    Xiao Hui Xia

  3. College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, People’s Republic of China

    Wan Cang Sun

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  1. Teng Guo Zhang
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  2. Yuan Yuan Wang
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  3. Juan Wang
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  4. Xiao Hui Xia
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  5. Ning Yang
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  7. Wan Cang Sun
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Correspondence to Teng Guo Zhang.

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Zhang, T.G., Wang, Y.Y., Wang, J. et al. Identification of a novel mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase gene (MKK2) in the oilseed rape Brassica campestris . Biologia 69, 1472–1481 (2014). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-014-0455-8

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