Frontiers in Plant Science (Aug 2020)

SgRVE6, a LHY-CCA1-Like Transcription Factor From Fine-Stem Stylo, Upregulates NB-LRR Gene Expression and Enhances Cold Tolerance in Tobacco

  • Shu Chen,
  • Shu Chen,
  • Huai-An Huang,
  • Huai-An Huang,
  • Jian-Hui Chen,
  • Jian-Hui Chen,
  • Cheng-Cheng Fu,
  • Cheng-Cheng Fu,
  • Peng-Lin Zhan,
  • Peng-Lin Zhan,
  • Shan-Wen Ke,
  • Xiang-Qian Zhang,
  • Xiang-Qian Zhang,
  • Tian-Xiu Zhong,
  • Tian-Xiu Zhong,
  • Xin-Ming Xie,
  • Xin-Ming Xie

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.01276
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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Stylosanthes species are economically important tropical and subtropical forage legumes which are generally vulnerable to chilling and frost. Fine-stem stylo (S. guianensis var. intermedia) has the most superior cold tolerance among all stylo species. A REVEILLE (RVE) gene, SgRVE6, was cloned from fine-stem stylo. Bioinformatic analysis suggests that SgRVE6 encodes a transcription factor of 292 amino acid residues, which belongs to the LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL/CIRCADIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED 1-LIKE (LCL) subgroup of RVE family and contains a SHAQKYF-class MYB domain and a LCL domain. SgRVE6 is universally expressed in root, stem and leaf tissues of fine-stem stylo and is rapidly up-regulated in all tested tissues under cold stress. Over-expressing SgRVE6 affects expression of 21 circadian clock genes, up-regulates expression of 6 nucleotide binding domain leucine-rich repeats (NB-LRR) encoding genes associated with tobacco cold tolerance, improves physiological responses to low temperature, and endows the transgenic tobaccos with higher tolerance to cold stress. This is the first time a study investigates the biological function of RVE6 in cold responses of plant species.

Keywords