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Characterization of the ZmCK1 Gene Encoding a Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinase Responsive to Multiple Abiotic Stresses in Maize

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Abstract

Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) play a vital regulatory role in abiotic stress responses in plants. We isolated the ZmCK1 gene encoding a CDPK from maize seedlings. The predicted ZmCK1 protein contains a typical Ser/Thr protein kinase domain and four EF-hand calcium-binding motifs in its N-terminal and C-terminal halves, respectively. The catalytic and regulatory domains were linked by a well-conserved junction domain. A ZmCK1::hGFP fusion protein was found to localize into the cytoplasma and nucleus upon introduction into Arabidopsis mesophyll protoplasts. ZmCK1 transcription was highly activated by salt and cold, and moderately by drought and exogenous ABA in maize seedling. Isolation of the ZmCK1 promoter revealed some cis-acting elements responding to stresses. Overexpression of ZmCK1 improved drought, salt, and cold stress tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. Our results suggested that ZmCK1 produces a functional kinase that may play a regulatory role in abiotic stress response.

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Abbreviations

ABA:

Abscisic acid

CBL:

Calcineurin B-like proteins

CDPK:

Calcium-dependent protein kinases

CaM:

Calmodulin

MAPKs:

Mitogen-activated protein kinases

RLKs:

Receptor-like kinases

Q-RT-PCR:

Real-time quantitative RT-PCR

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Acknowledgments

This research was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Beijing Nova Program (2008B08), and Funding Project for Academic Human Resources Development in Institutions of Higher Learning under the Jurisdiction of Beijing (PHR-IHLB). We are grateful to Mrs. Lee-Na Ning (GoldenBee (Beijing) Management Consulting Company Limited) for critically reading the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Research and Development, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, 100037, China

    Chang-Tao Wang

  2. National Key Facility of Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement (NFCRI), Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, 100081, China

    Jun-Ming Shao

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  1. Chang-Tao Wang
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Correspondence to Chang-Tao Wang.

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Wang, CT., Shao, JM. Characterization of the ZmCK1 Gene Encoding a Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinase Responsive to Multiple Abiotic Stresses in Maize. Plant Mol Biol Rep 31, 222–230 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11105-012-0496-5

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