Overexpression of alfalfa mitochondrial HSP23 in prokaryotic and eukaryotic model systems confers enhanced tolerance to salinity and arsenic stress

• DOI: 10.1007/s10529-011-0750-1
• Publication Date: 2011-11-30T08:45:13Z
• Authors: Ki-Won Lee; Joon-Yung Cha; Kyung-Hee Kim; Yong-Goo Kim; Byung-Hyun Lee; Sang-Hoon Lee
• Keywords: Bacterial wilt

The cloning and characterization of a gene (MsHSP23) coding for heat shock protein in alfalfa prokaryotic model plant system is described. MsHSP23 contains 633 bp ORF encoding polypeptide 213 amino acids exhibits greater sequence similarity to mitochondrial sHSPs from dicotyledons than those monocotyledons. When expressed bacteria, recombinant conferred tolerance salinity arsenic stress. Furthermore, was cloned expressing vector transformed into tobacco, eukaryotic organism. transgenic plants exhibited enhanced stress under ex vitro conditions. In comparison wild type plants, the significantly lower electrolyte leakage. Moreover, had superior germination rates when placed on medium containing arsenic. Taken together, these overexpression results imply that plays an important role tobacco. This approach could be useful develop tolerant crops including forage crops.