Abstract
Mesembryanthemum crystallium is a highly salt-tolerant halophyte. In order to find key genes for the salt tolerance, functional screening was performed using E. coli as a host organism. In this screening, enhanced salt tolerance was observed in E. coli expressing chloroplast RNA binding protein homolog (McRBP). Functional analysis indicates that McRBP have RNA chaperon like property in E. coli. Furthermore, transgenic tobacco plants expressing McRBP showed enhanced salt tolerance in the presence of 150 mM NaCl. Real time RT-PCR analysis indicates that the amount of McRBP mRNA in the leaves of the ice plant increases under salt stress conditions. Based on these results, McRBP may play an important role in the salt tolerance mechanisms in the ice plant.
