Two homologous low-temperature-inducible genes from Arabidopsis encode highly hydrophobic proteins

• Published in: Plant physiology (Bethesda) Vol. 115; no. 2; pp. 569 - 576
• Main Authors: Capel, J, Jarillo, J.A, Salinas, J, Martinez-Zapater, J.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Rockville, MD American Society of Plant Physiologists 01.10.1997
• Subjects: ABA; Abscisic Acid - pharmacology; ACCLIMATIZATION; Acclimatization - genetics; ADAPTACION; ADAPTATION; ADN; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Amino Acid Sequence; AMINO ACID SEQUENCES; Amino acids; ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS; ANAEROBIOSE; ANAEROBIOSIS; Arabidopsis - genetics; Arabidopsis - growth & development; Arabidopsis Proteins; ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; CARTE GENETIQUE; CELL MEMBRANES; CHEMICAL COMPOSITION; CODE GENETIQUE; CODIGO GENETICO; COLD; Cold Temperature; COMPLEMENTARY DNA; COMPOSICION QUIMICA; COMPOSITION CHIMIQUE; DEHYDRATION; DESHIDRATACION; DESHYDRATATION; DNA; DNA, Complementary - genetics; Economic plant physiology; EXPRESION GENICA; EXPRESSION DES GENES; Freezing; FRIO; FROID; FROST; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GEL; GENE; GENE EXPRESSION; Gene expression regulation; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; GENES; Genes, Plant; GENETIC CODE; GENETIC MAPS; Growth and development; Heat-Shock Proteins - genetics; HELADA; HORDEUM VULGARE; INDUCTION; LOPHOPHYRUM ELONGATUM; Low temperature; MAPAS GENETICOS; MEMBRANAS CELULARES; MEMBRANE CELLULAIRE; Membrane Proteins - genetics; Messenger RNA; MOLECULAR SEQUENCE DATA; Morphogenesis, differentiation, rhizogenesis, tuberization. Senescence; NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE; Physical agents; Plant physiology and development; PLANT PROTEINS; Plant Proteins - biosynthesis; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plants; PROTEINAS; PROTEINE; PROTEINS; RCI2A GENES; RCI2B GENES; RESISTANCE A LA TEMPERATURE; RESISTENCIA A LA TEMPERATURA; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Plant - genetics; SALINIDAD; SALINITE; SALINITY; SECUENCIA NUCLEOTIDICA; Seedlings; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; SEQUENCE NUCLEOTIDIQUE; STRESS RESPONSE; TEMPERATURA; TEMPERATURE; TEMPERATURE RESISTANCE; Tissue Distribution; Vegetative apparatus, growth and morphogenesis. Senescence; Whole Plant, Environmental, and Stress Physiology; Cold; Induction; Tolerance; Homology; Hydrophobicity; Gene expression; Arabidopsis thaliana; Proteins; Regulation(control); Complementary DNA; Cruciferae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Abscisic acid; Spermatophyta; Sequencing; Low temperature
• ISSN: 0032-0889; 1532-2548
• DOI: 10.1104/pp.115.2.569

We have characterized two related cDNAs (RCI2A and RCI2B) corresponding to genes from Arabidopsis thaliana, the expression of which is transiently induced by low, nonfreezing temperatures. RCI2A and RCI2B encode small (54 amino acids), highly hydrophobic proteins that bear two potential transmembrane domains. They show similarity to proteins encoded by genes from barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheatgrass (Lophophyrum elongatum) that are regulated by different stress conditions. Their high level of sequence homology (78%) and their genomic location in a single restriction fragment suggest that both genes originated as a result of a tandem duplication. However, their regulatory sequences have diverged enough to confer on them different expression patterns. Like most of the cold-inducible plant genes characterized, the expression of RCI2A and RCI2B is also promoted by abscisic acid (ABA) and dehydration but is not a general response to stress conditions, since it is not induced by salt stress or by anaerobiosis. Furthermore, low temperatures are able to induce RCI2A and RCI2B expression in ABA-deficient and -insensitive genetic backgrounds, indicating that both ABA-dependent and -independent pathways regulate the low-temperature responsiveness of these two genes