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Overexpression of Arabidopsis dehydration-responsive element-binding protein 2C confers tolerance to oxidative stress

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Molecules and Cells

Abstract

Dehydration-responsive element-binding proteins (DREBs) regulate plant responses to environmental stresses. In the current study, transcription of DREB2C, a class 2 Arabidopsis DREB, was induced by a superoxide anion propagator, methyl viologen (MV). The oxidative stress tolerance of DREB2C-overexpressing transgenic plants was significantly greater than that of wild-type plants, as measured by ion leakage and chlorophyll fluorescence under light conditions. The transcriptional activity of several ascorbate peroxidase (APX) genes as well as APX protein activity was induced in DREB2C overexpressors. Additionally, the level of H2O2 in the overexpressors was lower than in wt plants under similar oxidative stress conditions. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay and transient activatorreporter assay showed that APX2 expression was regulated by heat shock factor A3 (HsfA3) and that HsfA3 is regulated at the transcriptional level by DREB2C. These results suggest that DREB2C plays an important role in promoting oxidative stress tolerance in Arabidopsis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Systems and Synthetic Agrobiotech Center and PMBBRC, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 660-701, Korea

    Jung Eun Hwang, Chan Ju Lim, Huan Chen & Chae Oh Lim

  2. Division of Applied Life Science (Brain Korea 21 Program), Graduate School of Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 660-701, Korea

    Jihyun Je, Chieun Song & Chae Oh Lim

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  1. Jung Eun Hwang
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  2. Chan Ju Lim
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  3. Huan Chen
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  4. Jihyun Je
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  5. Chieun Song
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  6. Chae Oh Lim
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Correspondence to Chae Oh Lim.

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Hwang, J.E., Lim, C.J., Chen, H. et al. Overexpression of Arabidopsis dehydration-responsive element-binding protein 2C confers tolerance to oxidative stress. Mol Cells 33, 135–140 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10059-012-2188-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10059-012-2188-2

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