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Water-deficit induction of a tomato H1 histone requires abscisic acid

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Abstract

Many genes are induced by periods of water deficit, and a subset of these are dependent on elevated ABA content for expression. A number of drought-induced genes are not induced in leaves of the ABA-deficient mutant flacca from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) but are induced in detached, wilted wild-type leaves and ABA-treated leaves of both genotypes. The nucleotide sequence of the cDNA and corresponding genomic DNA fragment of one of these genes, his1-s (formerly called le20), encodes an amino acid sequence that is rich in Lys, Ala, and Ser. The predicted protein contains the tripartite structure of H1 histone and is similar to other H1 histones, especially in the globular domain. Since, his1-s is more closely related to a stress-induced gene from Lycopersicon pennellii than to another H1 histone in the tomato genome it is considered a stress-induced variant of H1 histone. his1-s mRNA accumulated in vegetative plants in response to other abiotic stress treatments, including application of polyethylene glycol, and salt. The mRNA preferentially accumulated in leaves as compared to roots. his1-s mRNA accumulation was controlled during development; the level was higher in developing seeds of mature green fruit than in detached wilted leaves. H1 histones have been implicated in the general repression of gene expression and in the regulation of specific genes. The rapid accumulation of his1-s mRNA during stress may indicate that this unique, stress-induced H1 histone is involved in controlling gene expression during plant stress.

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Author notes

  1. Amybeth Cohen

    Present address: Department of Biological Science, California State University, Fullerton, Box 6850, Fullerton, CA, 92834-6850, USA)

  2. Ryozo Imai

    Present address: Winter Stress Laboratory, Hokkaido National Agricultural Experiment Station, Hitsujigaoka, Sapporo 062, Japan)

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany and Plant Sciences and Graduate Genetics Group, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521-0124, USA (author for correspondence)

    Elizabeth A. Bray, Tung-Yuan Shih, Meena S. Moses, Amybeth Cohen, Ryozo Imai & Áine L. Plant

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada

    Áine L. Plant

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  1. Elizabeth A. Bray
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Bray, E.A., Shih, TY., Moses, M.S. et al. Water-deficit induction of a tomato H1 histone requires abscisic acid. Plant Growth Regulation 29, 35–46 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006264001528

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