Molecular cloning and functional characterization of a Na+/H+ antiporter gene from halophyte Spartina anglica

Authors

TAO LAN
YUANLIN DUAN
BIN WANG
YUANCHANG ZHOU
WEIREN WU

DOI

10.3906/tar-1003-2

Abstract

Na^+/H^+ antiporters have been suggested to play important roles in salt tolerance in plants. English cordgrass (Spartina anglica) is a gramineous halophyte with very strong salt tolerance. It possesses salt glands in its stems and leaves, through which excess salt can be excreted. In this study, a vacuolar Na^+/H^+ antiporter homologous gene (temporarily named SaNHX1) was isolated from Spartina anglica by RT-PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). Southern blot analysis suggested that there might be 2 or 3 copies of the vacuolar Na^+/H^+ antiporter genes in the English cordgrass genome. Northern blot analysis showed that the expression of vacuolar Na^+/H^+ antiporter genes in English cordgrass is induced by salt stress. Overexpression of SaNHX1 driven by constitutive promoter Ubi-1 in rice significantly enhanced the salt tolerance of transgenic plants, validating the function of SaNHX1 and suggesting its value for the genetic improvement of salt tolerance in plants.

Keywords

Halophyte, salt tolerance, SaNHX1, Spartina anglica, transgenic rice

First Page

535

Last Page

543

Recommended Citation

LAN, TAO; DUAN, YUANLIN; WANG, BIN; ZHOU, YUANCHANG; and WU, WEIREN (2011) "Molecular cloning and functional characterization of a Na+/H+ antiporter gene from halophyte Spartina anglica," Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry: Vol. 35: No. 5, Article 9. https://doi.org/10.3906/tar-1003-2
Available at: https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/agriculture/vol35/iss5/9