Abstract
The expression analysis of GhNAC4, a NAC (NAM, ATAF1-2, and CUC2) domain-containing transcription factor of the upland cotton, Gossypium hirsutum was carried out. Its expression was up-regulated by abscisic acid, cytokinin, methyl jasmonic acid, gibberellic acid, auxin, and ethylene. Its expression was also highly induced by drought, osmotic, oxidative, salinity, high and low-temperature stresses, and wounding. To corroborate these observations, we cloned the promoter of GhNAC4 and fused it transcriptionally with uidA (GUS) gene for studies in transgenic tobacco. Fluorometric GUS analysis of the transgenic plants revealed that it is also induced by various phytohormones and environmental stresses. The spatio-temporal analysis of the GhNAC4 promoter revealed that GUS expression was active in all stages of plant development including the reproductive organs. In the mature plant, the GhNAC4 is expressed at a higher level in vascular bundles and guard cells. We also observed intense expression in other cells upon wounding. These observations were supported by a detailed bioinformatic analysis of the GhNAC4 promoter for identifying the cis-acting elements that are associated with the regulation of gene expression in a tissue-specific and induced manner.
Key message
GhNAC4 gene is induced by phytohormones and environmental stress treatments in cotton. It is expressed throughout a mature plant, including the reproductive organs, vascular bundles, and guard cells.
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Data availability
All the data presented in the present manuscript are freely available to the interested researchers and would be made available upon request to the Corresponding author-VST (email- strishlajain@gmail.com).
Abbreviations
- 4-MU:
-
4-Methylumbelliferone
- 4-MUG/MUG:
-
4-Methyl-umbelliferyl-β-d-glucuronide
- ABA:
-
Abscisic acid
- BAP:
-
6-Benzyl aminopurine
- GA:
-
Gibberellic acid
- GUS:
-
Β-glucuronidase
- IAA:
-
Indole-3-acetic acid
- JA:
-
Jasmonic acid
- MeJA:
-
Methyl jasmonic acid
- MV:
-
Methyl viologen
- NAC:
-
NAM ATAF CUC
- PEG:
-
Polyethylene glycol
- SA:
-
Salicylic acid
- TF:
-
Transcription factor
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Acknowledgements
VST would like to acknowledge Vikas Kumar Jain and Manimaran Panneer Selvam for the critical reading of the manuscript. The authors are grateful to the Head, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Hyderabad for the facilities under various umbrella programs like DST-FIST and UGC-SAP-DRS.
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VST would like to acknowledge the Council of scientific and industrial research (CSIR), New Delhi for research fellowship (20-6/2009(i)EU-IV).
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VST and PBK conceived and designed the experiments. VST, SM, and PB performed the experiments. VST analyzed the data. VST and PBK wrote the manuscript.
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Trishla, V.S., Marriboina, S., Boyidi, P. et al. GUS-reporter based analysis of the promoter activity of Gossypium hirsutum NAC transcription factor, GhNAC4 that is induced by phytohormones and environmental stresses. Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 141, 643–654 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-020-01825-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-020-01825-2