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The ethylene response factor Va ERF 092 from Amur grape regulates the transcription factor Va WRKY 33, improving cold tolerance
Author(s) -
Sun Xiaoming,
Zhang Langlang,
Wong Darren C. J.,
Wang Yi,
Zhu Zhenfei,
Xu Guangzhao,
Wang Qingfeng,
Li Shaohua,
Liang Zhenchang,
Xin Haiping
Publication year - 2019
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 - 10.1111/tpj.14378
Subject(s) - wrky protein domain , transcription factor , biology , arabidopsis thaliana , ethylene , reporter gene , gene expression , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , arabidopsis , mutant , biochemistry , catalysis
Summary Cold stress is a major limiting factor in grape ( Vitis ) productivity. In this study, we characterized a cold‐responsive ethylene response factor (ERF) transcription factor, Va ERF 092, from Amur grape ( Vitis amurensis ). Va ERF 092 expression was induced by both low temperatures and the ethylene precursor 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate ( ACC ), but was suppressed by treatment with the ethylene inhibitor aminoethoxyvinylglycine ( AVG ) under cold conditions. Ectopic expression of Va ERF 092 in Arabidopsis thaliana enhanced cold tolerance. Co‐expression network analysis of V. vinifera genes indicated that WRKY 33 might be a downstream target of Va ERF 092 . This hypothesis was supported by the fact that Va WRKY 33 was expressed temporally after Va ERF 092 expression and could also be induced by cold and ACC , and inhibited by AVG . Yeast one‐hybrid, transient β‐glucuronidase ( GUS ) and dual‐luciferase reporter assays provided evidence for an interaction between Va ERF 092 and a GCC ‐box element in the Va WRKY 33 promoter. In addition, heterologous overexpression of Va WRKY 33 in A. thaliana resulted in enhanced cold tolerance. Va ERF 092‐ and Va WRKY 33 overexpressing grape calli showed lower low‐temperature exothermic values than the empty vector ( EV ) calli, indicating enhanced tolerance to cold. Together, these results indicated that Va ERF 092 regulates Va WRKY 33 through binding to its promoter GCC ‐box, leading to enhanced cold stress tolerance.