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Overexpression of a pepper basic pathogenesis-related protein 1 gene in tobacco plants enhances resistance to heavy metal and pathogen stresses

  • Genetic Transformation and Hybridization
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Abstract

A pepper gene, CABPR1, which encodes basic pathogenesis-related protein 1, has been reported to be strongly induced after ethephon treatment, wounding, and tobacco mosaic virus infection. The potential role of CABPR1 in tolerance of biotic or abiotic stresses was examined in transgenic Nicotiana tabacum cv. xanthi plants. Overexpression of CABPR1 in tobacco plants enhanced tolerance not only to heavy metal stresses, but also to the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora nicotianae, and the bacterial pathogens Ralstonia solanacearum and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci. RT-PCR revealed that the CABPR1 transgene increased expression of the PR-Q and glutathione S-transferase genes, but decreased expression of the PR-1a and thaumatin genes. Moreover, these transgenic lines exhibited significant decreases in total peroxidase activity and transcription level, suggesting that overexpression of CABPR1 in tobacco cells altered the balance of redox systems. Redox imbalance in transgenic lines may lead to H2O2 accumulation, triggering tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the special grants from the Agricultural R & D Promotion Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and by grants from PDRC (M103KD010057-04K0401-05710) of the 21st Century Frontier Research Program and SIGNET (R11-2003-008-02006) funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Korea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 136-701, Korea

    Sujon Sarowar, Young Jin Kim & Jeong Sheop Shin

  2. College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, 136-701, Korea

    Eui Nam Kim, Ki Deok Kim & Byung Kook Hwang

  3. Department of Botany, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh

    Rafiul Islam

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  1. Sujon Sarowar
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  2. Young Jin Kim
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  3. Eui Nam Kim
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  4. Ki Deok Kim
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  5. Byung Kook Hwang
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  6. Rafiul Islam
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  7. Jeong Sheop Shin
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Correspondence to Jeong Sheop Shin.

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Communicated by I.S. Chung

Sujon Sarowar and Young Jin Kim contributed equally to this work

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Sarowar, S., Kim, Y.J., Kim, E.N. et al. Overexpression of a pepper basic pathogenesis-related protein 1 gene in tobacco plants enhances resistance to heavy metal and pathogen stresses. Plant Cell Rep 24, 216–224 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-005-0928-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-005-0928-x

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