Spatial Expression and Characterization of a Putative Ethylene Receptor Protein NTHK1 in Tobacco

• Published in: Plant and cell physiology Vol. 43; no. 7; pp. 810 - 815
• Main Authors: Xie, Can, Zhang, Zhi-Gang, Zhang, Jin-Song, He, Xin-Jian, Cao, Wan-Hong, He, Si-Jie, Chen, Shou-Yi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Oxford University Press 01.07.2002; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate; ACC; Amino Acids, Cyclic - pharmacology; Escherichia coli - genetics; Ethylenes - pharmacology; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Immunohistochemistry; Keywords: Ethylene receptor protein — Immunohistochemistry — NTHK1 — Tobacco; Nicotiana - drug effects; Nicotiana - genetics; Nicotiana - growth & development; Phenotype; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plants, Genetically Modified; Receptors, Cell Surface - genetics; Receptors, Cell Surface - metabolism; reverse transcription – polymerase chain reaction; RT-PCR
• ISSN: 0032-0781; 1471-9053
• DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcf095

A putative ethylene receptor gene NTHK1 encodes a protein with a putative signal peptide, three transmembrane segments, a putative histidine kinase domain and a putative receiver domain. The receiver domain was expressed in an Escherichia coli expression system, purified and used to generate polyclonal antibodies for immunohistochemistry analysis. The spatial expression of the NTHK1 protein was then investigated. We found that NTHK1 was abundant during flower and ovule development. It was also expressed in glandular hairs, stem, and in leaves that had been wounded. The NTHK1 gene was further introduced into the tobacco plant and we found that, in different transgenic lines, the NTHK1 gene was transcribed to various degrees. Upon ACC treatment, the etiolated transgenic seedlings showed reduced ethylene sensitivity when compared with the control, indicating that NTHK1 is a functional ethylene receptor in plants.