Functional analysis of the stay-green gene ZjSGR from Zoysia japonica using transgenic Nicotiana tabacum

doi:10.11686/cyxb2016492

Abstract

Abstract: In green plants, SGR is a key gene with roles in chlorophyll degradation, plant development, senescence, and responses to abiotic stresses. In this study, the coding domain sequence of ZjSGR from Zoysia japonica was inserted into the 3302Y vector, yielding the plant expression vector 35S::ZjSGR:YFP, by DNA recombination technology. The construct was introduced into tobacco plants by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. The transgenic plants were confirmed to harbor the construct by PCR, and qRT-PCR analyses confirmed that ZjSGR was successfully heterologously expressed in the transgenic tobacco plants. The transgenic plants showed a rapid yellowing phenotype corresponding to a lower chlorophyll content and lower photosynthetic rate. Subcellular localization analyses showed that ZjSGR was localized in the chloroplasts in stably transformed tobacco plants. Transmission electron microscope analyses revealed that the chloroplasts in transgenic plants showed retarded development and decomposition processes. Analyses of gene transcript levels by qRT-PCR showed that the transcript levels of SAG113, SAG12, NECD, and AAO3 were higher in ZjSGR-overexpressing tobacco plants than in control plants. The results of this study highlight the important roles of ZjSGR in controlling chlorophyll degradation and senescence in plants.

CLC Number:

TAN Peng-Hui, YUAN Li-Li, FAN Bo, YU An-Dong, DONG Di, TENG Ke, CHAO Yue-Hui. Functional analysis of the stay-green gene ZjSGR from Zoysia japonica using transgenic Nicotiana tabacum[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2017, 26(5): 155-162.

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