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Identification of soybean MYC2-like transcription factors and overexpression of GmMYC1 could stimulate defense mechanism against common cutworm in transgenic tobacco

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Abstract

MYC2 is a basic helix-loop-helix Leu zipper transcription factor (TF). Here, 22 putative soybean MYC-like TFs were identified bioinformatically. Of these TFs, seven MYC2-like genes without introns were isolated and characterized. All seven GmMYCs displayed transactivation activity in yeast cells. Six genes (excepting GmMYC3) were expressed in the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seed wall but not in the developing seeds and up-regulated after insect feeding. The GmMYC1 transgenic tobacco rejected common cutworm (CCW, Spodoptera litura Fabricius) more strongly and lost less leaf area than the control (2.94 ± 2.36 vs 7.84 ± 4.63 cm2). The average relative growth rate of CCW feeding on transgenic tobacco leaves was lower than on control tobacco leaves (136 ± 60 vs 271 ± 76 %). These results indicated that GmMYC could stimulate the defense mechanism against insects in plants.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31201230) and the Natural Science Foundation of the Jiangsu Province of China (BK2012768).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, National Center for Soybean Improvement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China

    Hui Wang, Changwen Ding, Haiping Du, Hailun Liu, Yongli Wang & Deyue Yu

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  1. Hui Wang
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  2. Changwen Ding
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  3. Haiping Du
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  4. Hailun Liu
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  5. Yongli Wang
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  6. Deyue Yu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Deyue Yu.

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Wang, H., Ding, C., Du, H. et al. Identification of soybean MYC2-like transcription factors and overexpression of GmMYC1 could stimulate defense mechanism against common cutworm in transgenic tobacco. Biotechnol Lett 36, 1881–1892 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-014-1549-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-014-1549-7

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