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Over‐expression of a single Ca 2+ ‐dependent protein kinase confers both cold and salt/drought tolerance on rice plants
Author(s) -
Saijo Yusuke,
Hata Shingo,
Kyozuka Junko,
Shimamoto Ko,
Izui Katsura
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
the plant journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.058
H-Index - 269
eISSN - 1365-313X
pISSN - 0960-7412
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-313x.2000.00787.x
Subject(s) - genetically modified rice , salinity , microbiology and biotechnology , regulator , transgene , gene , biology , gene expression , genetically modified crops , protein kinase a , signal transduction , cold stress , kinase , botany , genetics , ecology
Summary A rice gene encoding a calcium‐dependent protein kinase (CDPK), OsCDPK7, was induced by cold and salt stresses. To elucidate the physiological function of OsCDPK7, we generated transgenic rice plants with altered levels of the protein. The extent of tolerance to cold and salt/drought stresses of these plants correlated well with the level of OsCDPK7 expression. Therefore, OsCDPK7 was shown to be a positive regulator commonly involved in the tolerance to both stresses in rice. Over‐expression of OsCDPK7 enhanced induction of some stress‐responsive genes in response to salinity/drought, but not to cold. Thus, it was suggested that the downstream pathways leading to the cold and salt/drought tolerance are different from each other. It seems likely that at least two distinct pathways commonly use a single CDPK, maintaining the signalling specificity through unknown post‐translational regulation mechanisms. These results demonstrate that simple manipulation of CDPK activity has great potential with regard to plant improvement.