A maize calcium-dependent protein kinase gene, ZmCPK4, positively regulated abscisic acid signaling and enhanced drought stress tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis

• Published in: Plant physiology and biochemistry 2013-10, Vol.71, p.112-120
• Main Authors: Jiang, Shanshan, Zhang, Dan, Wang, Li, Pan, Jiaowen, Liu, Yang, Kong, Xiangpei, Zhou, Yan, Li, Dequan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abscisic acid; Abscisic Acid - metabolism; Arabidopsis; Arabidopsis - genetics; Arabidopsis - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Calcium-dependent protein kinase gene; corn; Drought stress; Droughts; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; gene overexpression; genes; Maize; Plant physiology and development; plant response; Plants, Genetically Modified - genetics; Plants, Genetically Modified - metabolism; protein kinases; Protein Kinases - genetics; Protein Kinases - metabolism; proteins; quantitative polymerase chain reaction; reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; seed germination; seedling growth; signal transduction; Signal Transduction - genetics; Signal Transduction - physiology; stomatal movement; stress tolerance; transgenic plants; water stress; Zea mays; Zea mays - genetics; Zea mays - metabolism
• ISSN: 0981-9428; 1873-2690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2013.07.004

Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) play essential roles in calcium-mediated signal transductions in plant response to abiotic stress. Several members have been identified to be regulators for plants response to abscisic acid (ABA) signaling. Here, we isolated a subgroup I CDPK gene, ZmCPK4, from maize. Quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that the ZmCPK4 transcripts were induced by various stresses and signal molecules. Transient and stable expression of the ZmCPK4-GFP fusion proteins revealed ZmCPK4 localized to the membrane. Moreover, overexpression of ZmCPK4 in the transgenic Arabidopsis enhanced ABA sensitivity in seed germination, seedling growth and stomatal movement. The transgenic plants also enhanced drought stress tolerance. Taken together, the results suggest that ZmCPK4 might be involved in ABA-mediated regulation of stomatal closure in response to drought stress. •ZmCPK4 belongs to subgroup I CDPK and was predominantly localized to the membrane.•ZmCPK4 was induced by multiple abiotic stresses and signaling molecules.•Overexpression of ZmCPK4 in transgenic Arabidopsis enhanced abscisic acid sensitivity in seed germination, seedling growth and stomatal movement.•Overexpression of ZmCPK4 enhanced drought tolerance.