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Molecular characterization of cold stress-related transcription factors, CaEREBP-C1, -C2, -C3, and CaWRKY1A from Capsicum annuum L.

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Abstract

EREBP (ethylene responsive element binding protein) and WRKY (wizz-like transcription factor) are known to play roles in plant tolerance to abiotic stresses, such as low temperatures. Previously, we used cDNA microarrays and Northern blot analysis to determine the mechanisms responsible for those underlying defenses. These analyses led to the identification of CaEREBP-C1, -C2, -C3 and CaWRKY1A genes that encode the ethylene responsive element binding protein and wizz-like transcription factors, respectively, from hot pepper (Capsicum annuum). In that study, we demonstrated that the CaEREBP-C1, -C2, -C3 and CaWRKY1A genes were strongly induced by cold stress. Here, we used Tiplasmid and Agrobecterium-mediated transformation to engineer CaEREBP-C1, -C2, -C3 and CaWRKY1A under control of the CaMV 35S promoter for constitutive expression in transgenic plants. The resultant transgenic plants exhibited significantly increased tolerance to low temperatures. In addition, none of the CaEREBP-C1, -C2, -C3 and CaWRKY1A transgenic plants showed visible phenotypic alteration when compared to wild type plants. Taken together, these results suggest that CaEREBP-C1, -C2, -C3 and CaWRKY1A play important biological roles in conferring plant cold stress tolerance.

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  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Sunmoon University, Asan, 336-708, Korea

    Byeong-Kuk Yu, Jae-Hee Lee, Seon-Ju Shin, Eul-Won Hwang & Hawk-Bin Kwon

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  1. Byeong-Kuk Yu
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  2. Jae-Hee Lee
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Correspondence to Hawk-Bin Kwon.

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Yu, BK., Lee, JH., Shin, SJ. et al. Molecular characterization of cold stress-related transcription factors, CaEREBP-C1, -C2, -C3, and CaWRKY1A from Capsicum annuum L.. J. Plant Biol. 56, 106–114 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12374-012-0367-5

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