High Salinity Tolerant Tobacco Expressing Recombinant TF

Plants have evolved various mechanisms to overcome salinity stress. Scientists have observed increased expression of certain genes, specifically the late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) genes during salinity stress. But since salinity is a quantitative trait, the activity of numerous genes, including transcription factors (proteins that regulate gene expression), is required for salt tolerance.

By modifying the expression of AtDREB1A, a gene coding for a DREB transcription factor, scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have obtained transgenic tobacco with increased salinity tolerance. Overexpression of the DREB family of transcription factors confers tolerance to several abiotic stresses like drought, low temperature and high salinity. The transgenic tobacco lines exhibited longer root length and higher chlorophyll content compared to control plants. During high salinity stress, the GM plants synthesized higher levels of soluble sugars. Soluble sugars are known to act as osmoprotectants during stress conditions.

The paper published by the journal Plant Science is available to subscribers at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2007.11.002