Cloning and expression profiles of 15 genes encoding WRKY transcription factor in wheat ( Triticum aestivem L.)

• Published in: Progress in natural science Vol. 18; no. 6; pp. 697 - 705
• Main Authors: Wu, Hualing, Ni, Zhongfu, Yao, Yingyin, Guo, Ganggang, Sun, Qixin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2008; Department of Plant Genetics & Breeding and State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture/Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China
• Subjects: Gene cloning; Gene expression; Heterosis; Wheat; WRKY transcription factor; Gene cloning; Gene expression; Wheat; WRKY transcription factor; Heterosis
• ISSN: 1002-0071
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pnsc.2007.12.006

WRKY proteins are involved in various physiological processes, including biotic and abiotic stress responses, hormone responses and development. However, no systematic identification, expression and function analysis of WRKY genes in wheat were reported. In this study, we isolated 15 wheat cDNAs with complete open reading frame (ORF) encoding putative WRKY proteins using in silico cloning. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the 15 wheat WRKY genes belonged to three major WRKY groups. Expression analysis revealed that most genes expressed drastically in leaf, except TaWRKY10 which expressed in crown intensively. Four genes were strongly up-regulated with the senescence of leaves. Eight genes were responsive to low temperature, high temperature, NaCl or PEG treatment. Moreover, differential expression patterns were also observed between wheat hybrid and its parents, and some genes were more responsive to PEG treatment in the hybrid. These results demonstrated that wheat WRKY genes are involved in leaf senescing and abiotic stresses. And the changed expression of these WRKY genes in hybrid might contribute to the heterosis by improving the stress tolerance in hybrids.