Biotech Updates

Researchers Search for Drought-Related Transcription Factors in Common Bean

September 14, 2016

Drought is one of the most important environmental stress affecting common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production. The NAM, ATAF1/2 and CUC2 (NAC) domain protein family are classic transcription factors (TF) involved in a variety of abiotic stresses, particularly drought stress. However, the NAC transcription factors in common bean have not been well studied.

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, led by Jing Wu, identified 86 putative NAC TF proteins from the common bean genome. The proteins were grouped into eight subfamilies depending on their gene structure and motif composition. This suggests that NACs in the same subfamily may possess similar functions. The team then identified 22 drought-related NAC TF based on data from drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive genotypes.

These results provide information for the functional characterization of common bean NAC genes as well as resources for drought stress tolerance in common bean.

For more on this study, read the full article in BMC Plant Biology.