Abstract
Induction of C-repeat binding transcriptional factors belonging to AP2/DREB family is involved in regulation of gene expression in response to low temperature/drought stress. In relation to Arabidopsis, with a process of post-transcriptional modifications, ICE1 (Inducer of CBF Expression) possesses a MYC-like bHLH type DNA binding domain which regulates CBF genes. The activation of ICE-CBF cascade is fully explained in Arabidopsis, yet the mechanism still remains unclear in rice. Under the low temperature, RT-PCR analysis indicated expression levels ICE-like homologs retained almost the same level, whereas immunoblot assay showed that a protein level of ICE-like homolog was found at about 40 kDa. These results suggest that ICE-CBF cascade has also functioned in rice seedlings, when exposed to low temperature.
