Cloning and Expression Profile of an ERF Gene Isolated from Cold-Stressed Poplar Cells (Populus nigra)

Abstract

We analyzed a gene in the ethylene responsive factor (ERF) family, which plays an important role in allowing plants to respond to various environmental cues, isolated from suspension cultured cells of Populus nigra subjected to cold stress. A comparison of gene homology with transcription factors of the AP2/ERF family revealed a well conserved AP2/ERF domain in the predicted amino acid sequence of PncERF1. However, it has no consensus sequences around the AP2/ERF domain, which is a characteristic sequence of the CBF/DREB subfamily belonging to the ERF family. PncERF1 likely belongs to the ERF subfamily, which is the other ERF subfamily. Expression analysis showed no expression of PncERF1 at room temperature, at which cells grew normally, although it was expressed following cold treatment for 24 h. Therefore, PncERF1 was predicted to play a role in poplar cell survival in cold environments.