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Members of B-box Protein Family from Malus domestica Enhanced Abiotic Stresses Tolerance in Escherichia coli

Molecular Biotechnology volume 61, pages 421–426 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

The B-box proteins (BBXs) are zinc finger proteins containing one or two B-box domain(s) and involved in regulation of development processes as transcription factors in plants. Here, seven BBX genes in Malus domestica genome (MdBBXs) were identified and found to be up-regulated under abiotic stresses, with 2–12 folds in roots. All recombinant MdBBXs expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) enhanced the cell’s tolerance to salt and osmotic stresses, respectively. Deficiency of B-box domain of MdBBX10 led to the loss of anti-stress functions. Five conservative cysteines in B-box domain played crucial roles in stress resistance, which are involved in two of metal iron binding sites of zinc finger motifs in BBXs. All the above results suggested MdBBXs confer stress tolerance to E. coli cell against abiotic stresses.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Special Research Fund of Public Welfare of China Agricultural Ministry (201303093).

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Affiliations

  1. College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, 271018, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Xin Liu, Yaqing Dai, Rong Li, Li Yuan, Xuesen Chen & Xiaoyun Wang

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  1. Xin Liu
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  2. Yaqing Dai
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  3. Rong Li
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Contributions

Designed the experiments: XYW and XL. Performed the experiments: XL, YQD, RL, and LY. Analyzed the data: XL, YQD, and XSC. Wrote the paper: XYW and XL. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Xiaoyun Wang.

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Liu, X., Dai, Y., Li, R. et al. Members of B-box Protein Family from Malus domestica Enhanced Abiotic Stresses Tolerance in Escherichia coli. Mol Biotechnol 61, 421–426 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-019-00172-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-019-00172-8

Keywords

  • B-box domain
  • Stress tolerance
  • Zinc finger motifs
  • Conservative cysteine