Plant Physiol.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Web of Science (21)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Winicov, I.
Right arrow Articles by Bastola, D. R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Winicov, I.
Right arrow Articles by Bastola, D. R.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Winicov, I.
Right arrow Articles by Bastola, D. R.

Transgenic Overexpression of the Transcription Factor Alfin1 Enhances Expression of the Endogenous MsPRP2 Gene in Alfalfa and Improves Salinity Tolerance of the Plants1

Ilga Winicov2, * and Dhundy R. Bastola3

Departments of Microbiology and Biochemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557

Alfin1 cDNA encodes a putative transcription factor associated with NaCl tolerance in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). The recombinant protein binds DNA in a sequence-specific manner, including promoter fragments of the NaCl-inducible gene MsPRP2. Alfin1 function was tested in transgenic alfalfa under the control of the 35S promoter in the sense and antisense orientations with the endogenous MsPRP2 as a reporter gene. Calli overexpressing Alfin1 were more resistant to growth inhibition by 171 mM NaCl than vector-transformed controls, whereas calli expressing Alfin1 in the antisense orientation were more sensitive to NaCl inhibition. Transgenic plants overexpressing Alfin1 in the sense orientation grew well. In contrast, the antisense transgenic plants grew poorly in soil, demonstrating that Alfin1 expression is essential for normal plant development. Transgenic calli and plant roots overexpressing Alfin1 showed enhanced levels of endogenous MsPRP2 mRNA accumulation. However, MsPRP2 mRNA accumulation was also regulated in a tissue-specific manner, as shown in leaves of transgenic plants overexpressing Alfin1. These results suggest that Alfin1 acts as a transcriptional regulator in plants and regulates MsPRP2 expression in alfalfa. Alfin1 overexpressing transgenic plants showed salinity tolerance comparable to one of our NaCl-tolerant plants, indicating that Alfin1 also functions in gene regulation in NaCl tolerance.

1   This work was supported in part by a Hatch grant from the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, by the National Science Foundation Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, Women in Science and Engineering, and by the National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program (grant no. 9401235 to I.W).
2   Present address: Department of Plant Biology, Arizona State University, Main Campus, P.O. Box 871601, Tempe, AZ 85287-1601.
3   Present address: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology/3008EI, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4525.
*   Corresponding author; e-mail winicov{at}asu.edu; fax 1-602-965-6899.

Plant Physiol. (1999) 120: 473-480
Copyright Clearance Center:   0032-0889/99/120//08
© 1999 American Society of Plant Physiologists




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Plant Physiol.Home page
L. de Lorenzo, F. Merchan, S. Blanchet, M. Megias, F. Frugier, M. Crespi, and C. Sousa
Differential Expression of the TFIIIA Regulatory Pathway in Response to Salt Stress between Medicago truncatula Genotypes
Plant Physiology, December 1, 2007; 145(4): 1521 - 1532.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Plant Physiol.Home page
P. D. Weyman, Z. Pan, Q. Feng, D. G. Gilchrist, and R. M. Bostock
A Circadian Rhythm-Regulated Tomato Gene Is Induced by Arachidonic Acid and Phythophthora infestans Infection
Plant Physiology, January 1, 2006; 140(1): 235 - 248.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Plant Physiol.Home page
G. M. Pastori and C. H. Foyer
Common Components, Networks, and Pathways of Cross-Tolerance to Stress. The Central Role of "Redox" and Abscisic Acid-Mediated Controls
Plant Physiology, June 1, 2002; 129(2): 460 - 468.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Integr. Comp. Biol.Home page
J. C. Cushman
Osmoregulation in Plants: Implications for Agriculture
Integr. Comp. Biol., August 1, 2001; 41(4): 758 - 769.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
ASPB Publications PLANT PHYSIOLOGY® THE PLANT CELL
Copyright © 1999 by the American Society of Plant Biologists