Banana Gene Region Helps Plants Cope with Stress

Greg Howard
2nd September, 2024

Banana Gene Region Helps Plants Cope with Stress

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • Researchers at the National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute identified and characterized the promoter of the COR2-like gene from banana
  • The COR2-like gene promoter is tissue-specific and stress-inducible, responding to drought, salinity, and signaling molecules
  • Transgenic tobacco plants with the COR2-like promoter showed increased stress tolerance, indicating potential for developing resilient crops
Transgenic crops have become a cornerstone of modern agriculture, offering solutions to various challenges such as pest resistance, nutritional enhancement, and environmental stress tolerance. A critical component in the success of these genetically modified plants is the promoter, a DNA sequence that drives the expression of the transgene. Understanding and characterizing these promoters can significantly impact crop improvement strategies. In a recent study conducted by the National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, researchers identified and characterized the promoter of a gene called COR2-like from banana, shedding light on its tissue-specific and stress-inducible nature[1]. The COR2-like gene in banana is closely related to other plant genes involved in secondary metabolite pathways, such as codeinone reductase (COR2) and chalcone reductase (CHR). These genes typically possess a catalytic tetrad, a sequence of four amino acids essential for their enzymatic activity, which is a hallmark of aldo-keto reductase proteins. Aldo-keto reductases are enzymes known for their role in detoxifying reactive carbonyl species, which can accumulate under stress conditions[2]. The researchers found that the transcript levels of MusaCOR2-like were significantly induced in response to various stressors, including drought, salinity, and exposure to signaling molecules like abscisic acid, methyl-jasmonate, and salicylic acid. This induction was strongly correlated with the presence of multiple cis-elements associated with stress responses in the PMusaCOR2-like sequence isolated from the Musa cultivar Rasthali. Cis-elements are regions of non-coding DNA which regulate the transcription of nearby genes, playing a crucial role in how a plant responds to environmental stimuli. To further understand the functionality of this promoter, the researchers created transgenic tobacco lines harboring the PMusaCOR2-like-GUS construct. GUS, or β-glucuronidase, is a reporter gene commonly used in plant molecular biology to study promoter activity. Under normal conditions, GUS expression was visible in the vascular tissues of leaves and stems but undetectable in roots. However, when these transgenic plants were exposed to drought, salinity, and cold, GUS expression was strongly induced in the shoots within a window period of 3 to 12 hours. This rapid response underscores the promoter's potential utility in developing stress-tolerant crops. The study also explored the effects of various signaling molecules on GUS expression in the transgenic tobacco lines. Applications of salicylic acid, methyl-jasmonate, abscisic acid, and ethephon activated GUS expression, with salicylic acid and abscisic acid being the most potent stimulants. This finding is particularly intriguing as it suggests that the PMusaCOR2-like promoter could be used to engineer plants with enhanced resistance to multiple stressors by leveraging their natural signaling pathways. This research builds on previous studies that have characterized stress-responsive genes and their promoters in other plant species. For instance, the study of aldo-keto reductases in the moss Physcomitrella patens highlighted the role of these enzymes in detoxifying harmful compounds under salt stress, contributing to the plant's overall stress tolerance[2]. Similarly, the identification of genes involved in vitamin C biosynthesis in strawberries demonstrated how manipulating specific pathways can enhance nutritional content in plants[3]. The current study on the PMusaCOR2-like promoter adds another layer to our understanding by focusing on the regulatory elements that control gene expression in response to environmental stressors. In conclusion, the identification and characterization of the PMusaCOR2-like promoter from banana provide valuable insights into the complex regulation of stress-responsive genes. By demonstrating its tissue-specific and stress-inducible nature, this study offers a promising tool for developing transgenic crops with improved stress tolerance. The findings underscore the importance of understanding and manipulating promoter regions to optimize the expression of transgenes, paving the way for more resilient and sustainable agricultural practices.

GeneticsBiochemPlant Science

References

Main Study

1) Promoter of COR2-like gene is a stress inducible regulatory region in banana.

Published 1st September, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-024-00405-w

Related Studies

2) PpAKR1A, a Novel Aldo-Keto Reductase from Physcomitrella Patens, Plays a Positive Role in Salt Stress.

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20225723

3) Engineering increased vitamin C levels in plants by overexpression of a D-galacturonic acid reductase.

Journal: Nature biotechnology, Issue: Vol 21, Issue 2, Feb 2003


Related Articles

An unhandled error has occurred. Reload 🗙