Constitutive expression of CaSRP1, a hot pepper small rubber particle protein homolog, resulted in fast growth and improved drought tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis plants.
Transient and long-term shortages of fresh water are major adverse environmental factors that cause dramatic reductions in crop production and distribution globally. In this study, we isolated a full-length CaSRP1 (Capsicum annuum stress-related protein 1) cDNA, which was rapidly induced by dehydration in hot pepper plants. The predicted CaSRP1 protein sequence exhibited significant amino acid identity to putative stress-related proteins and the small rubber particle protein (SRPP) found in rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis). To study the cellular functions of CaSRP1, transgenic Arabidopsis plants (35S:CaSRP1) that constitutively expressed the CaSRP1 gene were constructed. Overexpression of CaSRP1 resulted in enhanced root and shoot growth and earlier bolting in the transgenic plants relative to wild-type plants. In addition, 35S:CaSRP1 overexpressors exhibited enhanced tolerance to drought stress as compared to the control plants. These results suggest that CaSRP1 plays dual functions as a positive factor for tissue growth and development and for drought-defensive responses. A possible cellular function of SRPP homologs in non-rubber-producing plants in relation to drought stress tolerance is discussed.
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Related Subject Headings
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Plants, Genetically Modified
- Plant Proteins
- Plant Biology & Botany
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Droughts
- DNA, Complementary
- DNA Primers
- Capsicum
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Plants, Genetically Modified
- Plant Proteins
- Plant Biology & Botany
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Droughts
- DNA, Complementary
- DNA Primers
- Capsicum