Journal Article

OsTZF1, a CCCH-Tandem Zinc Finger Protein, Confers Delayed Senescence and Stress Tolerance in Rice by Regulating Stress-Related Genes

Todaka, Daisuke, Kidokoro, Satoshi, Yoshimura, Etsuro, Abo, Mitsuru, Maruyama, Kyonoshin, Yamaguchi-Shinozaki, Kazuko, Shinozaki, Kazuo, Jan, Asad, Nakashima, Kazuo

2013

Overview

OsTZF1 is a member of the CCCH-type zinc finger gene family in rice (Oryza sativa). Expression of OsTZF1 was induced by drought, high-salt stress, and hydrogen peroxide. OsTZF1 gene expression was also induced by abscisic acid, methyl jasmonate, and salicylic acid. Histochemical activity of β-glucuronidase in transgenic rice plants containing the promoter of OsTZF1 fused with β-glucuronidase was observed in callus, coleoptile, young leaf, and panicle tissues. Upon stress, OsTZF1-green fluorescent protein localization was observed in the cytoplasm and cytoplasmic foci. Transgenic rice plants overexpressing OsTZF1 driven by a maize (Zea mays) ubiquitin promoter (Ubi:OsTZF1-OX [for overexpression]) exhibited delayed seed germination, growth retardation at the seedling stage, and delayed leaf senescence. RNA interference (RNAi) knocked-down plants (OsTZF1-RNAi) showed early seed germination, enhanced seedling growth, and early leaf senescence compared with controls. Ubi:OsTZF1-OX plants showed improved tolerance to high-salt and drought stresses and vice versa for OsTZF1-RNAi plants. Microarray analysis revealed that genes related to stress, reactive oxygen species homeostasis, and metal homeostasis were regulated in the Ubi:OsTZF1-OX plants. RNA-binding assays indicated that OsTZF1 binds to U-rich regions in the 3' untranslated region of messenger RNAs, suggesting that OsTZF1 might be associated with RNA metabolism of stress-responsive genes. OsTZF1 may serve as a useful biotechnological tool for the improvement of stress tolerance in various plants through the control of RNA metabolism of stress-responsive genes.

• Publisher: American Society of Plant Biologists
• Subject: abiotic stress / Adaptation, Physiological - genetics / Biological and medical sciences / Cellular senescence / ECOPHYSIOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / Gene Expression Profiling / Gene expression regulation / Gene Expression Regulation, Plant - drug effects / Genes / Genes, Plant - genetics / leaves / metabolism / Metals - metabolism / Organ Specificity - drug effects / Organ Specificity - genetics / Oryza - drug effects / Oryza - genetics / Oryza - growth & development / Oryza - physiology / Oxidative stress / Oxidative Stress - drug effects / Oxidative Stress - genetics / Peptides - metabolism / Phenotype / Plant Growth Regulators - pharmacology / Plant physiology and development / Plant Proteins - genetics / Plant Proteins - metabolism / Plants / Protein Binding - drug effects / Protein Binding - genetics / Protein Transport - drug effects / Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism / Rice / RNA / RNA Interference / RNA, Plant - metabolism / Seedlings / Senescence and abscission / Sodium Chloride - pharmacology / stress response / Stress tolerance / Stress, Physiological - genetics / Subcellular Fractions - drug effects / Subcellular Fractions - metabolism / Transcriptome - drug effects / Transcriptome - genetics / Vegetative apparatus, growth and morphogenesis. Senescence / Zinc / zinc finger motif / Zinc Fingers - genetics