玉米是我国第一大作物,提高玉米的抗逆性是玉米育种的重要目标性状之一。植物C2H2型锌指蛋白广泛参与植物各个时期的生长发育及逆境应答过程。本研究从玉米中分离了转录因子ZmC2H2-1基因并对其功能进行了初步研究。结果表明,ZmC2H2-1属于C2H2锌指蛋白转录因子家族,编码蛋白主要位于细胞核中,酵母自激活实验表明ZmC2H2-1不具有自激活活性;干旱、盐和ABA等逆境可抑制ZmC2H2-1基因在玉米中的表达;过表达ZmC2H2-1基因的拟南芥叶片失水速率更快,在PEG、高盐和ABA处理条件下,与对照相比转ZmC2H2-1基因拟南芥耐逆性降低,以上结果说明ZmC2H2-1基因是作为玉米抗逆的负调控因子参与了逆境胁迫应答。本研究为深入解析玉米ZmC2H2-1的调控网络和玉米的抗逆调控机制奠定了基础。

Maize has become the most widely planted crops in China and improving maize stress tolerance is one of major target traits for maize breeding. C2H2 zinc finger proteins are widely involved in growth development and stress response in plants. In this study, the transcription factor ZmC2H2-1 gene was isolated from maize and its function was investigated. Our data showed that ZmC2H2-1 belonged to C2H2 transcription factor family, mainly located in the nucleus, and cannot self-activate in yeast. Drought, salt and ABA can inhibit ZmC2H2-1 expression in maize. The water loss rate of excised-leaves was faster in ZmC2H2-1-transgenic Arabidopsis than that in WT. When treated with PEG, high salt and ABA, the stress tolerance was more sensitive in ZmC2H2-1-transgenicplants than WT. These data showed that ZmC2H2-1 played a negative role in stress tolerance in maize. Collectively, this study provides important information for us to analyze ZmC2H2-1 regulatory network and mechanism of stress tolerance in maize.