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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Dawson, Georgia » National Peanut Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #283295
Title: Identification of genes encoding drought-induced transcription factors in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Author
item Dang, Phat
item CHARLES, CHEN - Auburn University
item Holbrook, Carl - Corley

Submitted to: Journal of Molecular Biochemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/7/2012
Publication Date: 10/18/2012
Citation: Dang, P.M., Charles, C., Holbrook Jr, C.C. 2012. Identification of drought-induced transcription factors in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Journal of Molecular Biology. 1:196-205.

Interpretive Summary: Peanut yield and quality are greatly affected by drought. Plants respond to this stress by producing a class of proteins called transcription factors which can bind DNA and activate the production of other proteins important in plant protection and acclimation. Specific transcription factors that are induced in peanut under drought conditions have not been identified. The objective of this study was to compare relative gene-expression levels and patterns of various transcription factors between a drought-tolerant and a susceptible peanut genotype under drought conditions. Twelve putative peanut transcription factors were evaluated, in which three were identified to be uniquely regulated by drought stress. Specific gene-expression level and pattern of the newly discovered transcription factors in peanut will allow the selection of plants with higher tolerance to drought stress.

Technical Abstract: Transcription factors play key roles in the regulation of genes involved in normal development as well as tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Specific transcription factors that are induced in peanut under drought conditions have not been identified. The objectives of this study were to compare gene-expression patterns of various transcription factors of a drought tolerant versus a susceptible peanut genotype under drought conditions and to identify transcripts that were regulated in a drought dependent manner. Twelve putative transcription factors were identified and real-time PCR analysis were performed which resulted in the identification of three unique transcripts in which ahERF1 was highly induced in recovery stage; and ahERF7 and ahERF8 were highly induced by drought and returned to nominal levels after recovery. These sequences contain DNA binding domains that are present in APETALA2/Ethelene Responsive Factors (AP2/ERF) family of transcription factors which have been shown to be induced by stress. Induction levels and patterns of gene-expression of ahERF1, ahERF7 and ahERF8 may be used to select plants that may have higher drought tolerance.