Comprehensive analysis of transcriptome and metabolome using transgenic plants overexpressing stress-inducible transcription factors DREB1A and DREB2A

Abstract

Plants respond and adapt to cold and drought stresses with physiological and developmental changes. These stresses induce some kinds of genes which function in stress tolerance. Overexpression of DREB1A and/or DREB2A in transgenic plants activated the expression of many stress-inducible genes and resulted in improved tolerance to freezing and/or drought. To identify cold- and/or drought-stress-inducible metabolic enzyme genes and downstream genes of DREB1A and/or DREB2A, we performed 22k oligarray analysis. We identified known and new cold- and/or drought-stress-inducible metabolic enzyme genes. Some kinds of metabolic enzyme genes were included in downstream genes of DREB1A and/or DREB2A. To monitor metabolites in the cold and/or drought treated plants and transgenic plants overexpressing DREB1A and/or DREB2A, we assessed metabolites on a large scale by using GC/MS, LC/MS and CE/MS. Some kinds of sugers, amino acids and flavonoides were found to increase in cold and/or drought acclimated plants and transgenic plants.