Cloning of two basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor genes from Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) and their expression under abiotic stress

Authors: XIAO-PENG LUO, HAI-XIA ZHAO, JUN XUE, CHENG-LEI LI, HUI CHEN, SANG-UN PARK, QI WU

Abstract: Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors are one of the most important transcription factors involved in abiotic stress tolerance in Tartary buckwheat. In this study, we successfully isolated two bHLH transcription factor genes, designated as FtbHLH1 and FtbHLH2, from Tartary buckwheat. Their encoding proteins were found to have a motif to interact with R2R3-MYB at the N-terminus and a typical bHLH motif at the C-terminus. Yeast one-hybrid assay proved that the two bHLH proteins exhibited obvious transcriptional activation activities. The abiotic stresses indicated that FtbHLH1 expression would be mainly affected by drought and UV-B, whereas FtbHLH2 expression would present a sensitive response to cold and UV-B. Additionally, FtbHLH2 showed a more intense response to jasmonic acid treatment than FtbHLH1.

Keywords: Tartary buckwheat, RACE, bHLH genes, transcription activation, semiquantitative RT-PCR

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