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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2014, Vol. 13 Issue (6): 1230-1238    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60572-9
Crop Genetics · Breeding · Germplasm Resources Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Cloning, Localization and Expression Analysis of ZmHsf-like Gene in Zea mays
 LI Hui-cong, LI Guo-liang, LIU Zi-hui, ZHANG Hong-mei, ZHANG Yan-min , GUO Xiu-lin
Institute of Genetics and Physiology, Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences/Plant Genetic Engineering Center of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang 050051, P.R.China
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摘要  Using homology cloning method, a heat shock transcription factor (Hsf) like gene, ZmHsf-like, was cloned from maize (Zea mays) leaves. Sequence analyses showed that the open reading frame (ORF) of the gene ZmHsf-like is 1404 bp long, encoding 467 amino acids. The sequence of amino acids encoded by ZmHsf-like contains the most conserved and typical DNA-binding domain of Hsf family. By bombardment into onion epidermis, we firstly found that the ZmHsf-like was subcellular-located in nucleus. NucPred analysis revealed there is a classic NLS of KKRR peptide in protein. Real-time PCR showed that ZmHsf-like gene expressed in leaves, stems and roots of maize seedlings under normal growth conditions, and the highest expression level was in roots, lower in leaves and the lowest in stems. The ZmHsf-like gene expression could be up-regulated by heat shock, PEG, ABA, and H2O2 in different degrees, among which the heat shock and ABA worked more efficiently. Obvious differences of the peak value and its corresponding time point of ZmHsf-like gene expression were observed among treatments. Experiments with inhibitor further suggested that the up-regulation ZmHsf-like gene expression of heat shock was H2O2-dependent while the induction of ZmHsf-like with PEG did not depend on the existence of H2O2. These results pointed out that ZmHsf-like gene probably regulates responsive reactions to abiotic stresses especially heat shock and drought through different signal transduction pathways.

Abstract  Using homology cloning method, a heat shock transcription factor (Hsf) like gene, ZmHsf-like, was cloned from maize (Zea mays) leaves. Sequence analyses showed that the open reading frame (ORF) of the gene ZmHsf-like is 1404 bp long, encoding 467 amino acids. The sequence of amino acids encoded by ZmHsf-like contains the most conserved and typical DNA-binding domain of Hsf family. By bombardment into onion epidermis, we firstly found that the ZmHsf-like was subcellular-located in nucleus. NucPred analysis revealed there is a classic NLS of KKRR peptide in protein. Real-time PCR showed that ZmHsf-like gene expressed in leaves, stems and roots of maize seedlings under normal growth conditions, and the highest expression level was in roots, lower in leaves and the lowest in stems. The ZmHsf-like gene expression could be up-regulated by heat shock, PEG, ABA, and H2O2 in different degrees, among which the heat shock and ABA worked more efficiently. Obvious differences of the peak value and its corresponding time point of ZmHsf-like gene expression were observed among treatments. Experiments with inhibitor further suggested that the up-regulation ZmHsf-like gene expression of heat shock was H2O2-dependent while the induction of ZmHsf-like with PEG did not depend on the existence of H2O2. These results pointed out that ZmHsf-like gene probably regulates responsive reactions to abiotic stresses especially heat shock and drought through different signal transduction pathways.
Keywords:  maize       Hsf       ZmHsf-like       stress       nuclear-localization  
Received: 03 April 2013   Accepted:
Fund: 

This work was supported by grants from the Key Project of Application Basic Research of Hebei Province, China (12965517D) and the Youth Fund of Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, China (A09110103).

Corresponding Authors:  GUO Xiu-lin, Tel/Fax: +86-311-87269032, E-mail: myhf2002@163.com   
About author:  LI Hui-cong, E-mail: lhc_009@163.com

Cite this article: 

LI Hui-cong, LI Guo-liang, LIU Zi-hui, ZHANG Hong-mei, ZHANG Yan-min , GUO Xiu-lin. 2014. Cloning, Localization and Expression Analysis of ZmHsf-like Gene in Zea mays. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 13(6): 1230-1238.

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