Biotech Updates

Coffee BDP Gene Affects Abiotic Stress Response of Transgenic Arabidopsis

August 16, 2017

The functions of plant-specific BURP domain-containing proteins (BDP) have been determined for a few plants, however, their roles in most plant species, including coffee (Coffea arabica), are unknown. Chonnam National University researchers studied the function of a C. arabica BDP, CaBDP1, using transgenic Arabidopsis plants.

Initial analysis revealed that expression of CaBDP1 in coffee was highly modulated by drought, cold, and salt stresses, as well as abscisic acid (ABA). CaBDP1 proteins were also revealed to be localized in the endoplasmic reticulum.

Ectopic expression of CaBDP1 in Arabidopsis resulted in delayed germination of the transgenic plants under abiotic stress and in the presence of ABA. Cotyledon greening and seedling growth of the transgenic plants were also inhibited in the presence of ABA due to the upregulation of ABA signaling-related genes.

This study reveals that the coffee BDP gene plays an important role in the response of transgenic Arabidopsis plants to abiotic stresses by regulating various proteins. This study also highlights the potential role of BDPs in improving plant responses to abiotic stresses.

For more on this study, read the article in Plant Cell Reports.