ZmbZIP4 Contributes to Stress Resistance in Maize by Regulating ABA Synthesis and Root Development1[OPEN]
A bZIP transcription factor enables maize to grow better under stress by promoting root growth and the expression of stress-related genes. In plants, bZIP (basic leucine zipper) transcription factors regulate diverse processes such as development and stress responses. However, few of these transcrip...
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Published in | Plant physiology (Bethesda) Vol. 178; no. 2; pp. 753 - 770 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
American Society of Plant Biologists
20.08.2018
|
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | A bZIP transcription factor enables maize to grow better under stress by promoting root growth and the expression of stress-related genes.
In plants, bZIP (basic leucine zipper) transcription factors regulate diverse processes such as development and stress responses. However, few of these transcription factors have been functionally characterized in maize (
Zea mays
). In this study, we characterized the bZIP transcription factor gene
ZmbZIP4
from maize.
ZmbZIP4
was differentially expressed in various organs of maize and was induced by high salinity, drought, heat, cold, and abscisic acid treatment in seedlings. A transactivation assay in yeast demonstrated that ZmbZIP4 functioned as a transcriptional activator. A genome-wide screen for ZmbZIP4 targets by immunoprecipitation sequencing revealed that ZmbZIP4 could positively regulate a number of stress response genes, such as
ZmLEA2
,
ZmRD20
,
ZmRD21
,
ZmRab18
,
ZmNHX3
,
ZmGEA6
, and
ZmERD
, and some abscisic acid synthesis-related genes, including
NCED
,
ABA1
,
AAO3
, and
LOS5
. In addition,
ZmbZIP4
targets some root development-related genes, including
ZmLRP1
,
ZmSCR
,
ZmIAA8
,
ZmIAA14
,
ZmARF2
, and
ZmARF3
, and overexpression of
ZmbZIP4
resulted in an increased number of lateral roots, longer primary roots, and an improved root system. Increased abscisic acid synthesis by overexpression of
ZmbZIP4
also can increase the plant’s ability to resist abiotic stress. Thus, ZmbZIP4 is a positive regulator of plant abiotic stress responses and is involved in root development in maize. |
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Bibliography: | Senior author. H.M. performed most of the experiment and analyzed the data; C.L., Z.L., Q.R., G.X., B.W., S.F., and J.C., performed a part of the experiment and analyzed the data; H.M., Z.L., and J.Z. designed the experiment and completed the writing. www.plantphysiol.org/cgi/doi/10.1104/pp.18.00436 The author responsible for distribution of materials integral to the findings presented in this article in accordance with the policy described in the Instructions for Authors (www.plantphysiol.org) is: Juren Zhang (jrzhang@sdu.edu.cn). |
ISSN: | 0032-0889 1532-2548 |
DOI: | 10.1104/pp.18.00436 |