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Overexpression of AtLEA3-3 confers resistance to cold stress in Escherichia coli and provides enhanced osmotic stress tolerance and ABA sensitivity in Arabidopsis thaliana

  • Molecular Biology of the Cell
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Abstract

Previous studies have shown that the late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) group 3 proteins significantly respond to changes in environmental conditions. However, reports that demonstrate their biological role, especially in Arabidopsis, are notably limited. This study examines the functional roles of the Arabidopsis LEA group 3 proteins AtLEA3-3 and AtLEA3-4 in abiotic stress and ABA treatments. Expression of AtLEA3-3 and AtLEA3-4 is upregulated by ABA, high salinity, and osmotic stress. Results on the ectopic expression of AtLEA3-3 and AtLEA3-4 in E. coli suggest that both proteins play important roles in resistance to cold stress. Overexpression of AtLEA3-3 in Arabidopsis (AtLEA3-3-OE) confers salt and osmotic stress tolerance that is characterized during germination and early seedling establishment. However, AtLEA3-3-OE lines show sensitivity to ABA treatment during early seedling development. These results suggest that accumulation of AtLEA3-3 mRNA and/or proteins may help heterologous ABA reinitiate second dormancy during seedling establishment. Analysis of yellow fluorescent fusion proteins localization shows that AtLEA3-3 and AtLEA3-4 are mainly distributed in the ER and that AtLEA3-3 also localizes in the nucleus, and in response to salt, mannitol, cold, or BFA treatments, the localization of AtLEA3-3 and AtLEA3-4 is altered and becomes more condensed. Protein translocalization may be a positive and effective strategy for responding to abiotic stresses. Taken together, these results suggest that AtLEA3-3 has an important function during seed germination and seedling development of Arabidopsis under abiotic stress conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Plant Stress Ecophysiology and Biotechnology, Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Donggang West Road 320, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, 730000, PR China

    Pengshan Zhao

  2. MOE Key Laboratory of Arid and Grassland Ecology, Institute of Cell Biology, Life Science School, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui Southern Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China

    Pengshan Zhao, Fei Liu, Miao Ma, Jiao Gong, Qiujun Wang, Pengfei Jia, Guochang Zheng & Heng Liu

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  1. Pengshan Zhao
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Zhao, P., Liu, F., Ma, M. et al. Overexpression of AtLEA3-3 confers resistance to cold stress in Escherichia coli and provides enhanced osmotic stress tolerance and ABA sensitivity in Arabidopsis thaliana . Mol Biol 45, 785–796 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0026893311050165

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0026893311050165

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