Genome-wide expressional and functional analysis of calcium transport elements during abiotic stress and development in rice

FEBS J. 2014 Feb;281(3):894-915. doi: 10.1111/febs.12656. Epub 2014 Jan 7.

Abstract

Ca²⁺ homeostasis is required to maintain a delicate balance of cytosolic Ca²⁺ during normal and adverse growth conditions. Various Ca²⁺ transporters actively participate to maintain this delicate balance especially during abiotic stresses and developmental events in plants. In this study, we present a genome-wide account, detailing expression profiles, subcellular localization and functional analysis of rice Ca²⁺ transport elements. Exhaustive in silico data mining and analysis resulted in the identification of 81 Ca²⁺ transport element genes, which belong to various groups such as Ca²⁺-ATPases (pumps), exchangers, channels, glutamate receptor homologs and annexins. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that different Ca²⁺ transporters are evolutionarily conserved across different plant species. Comprehensive expression analysis by gene chip microarray and quantitative RT-PCR revealed that a substantial proportion of Ca²⁺ transporter genes were expressed differentially under abiotic stresses (salt, cold and drought) and reproductive developmental stages (panicle and seed) in rice. These findings suggest a possible role of rice Ca²⁺ transporters in abiotic stress and development triggered signaling pathways. Subcellular localization of Ca²⁺ transporters from different groups in Nicotiana benthamiana revealed their variable localization to different compartments, which could be their possible sites of action. Complementation of Ca²⁺ transport activity of K616 yeast mutant by Ca²⁺-ATPase OsACA7 and involvement in salt tolerance verified its functional behavior. This study will encourage detailed characterization of potential candidate Ca²⁺ transporters for their functional role in planta.

Keywords: Ca2+ transporter; abiotic stress; development; expression; signal transduction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allostasis / genetics*
  • Biological Transport
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Calcium-Transporting ATPases / chemistry
  • Calcium-Transporting ATPases / genetics
  • Calcium-Transporting ATPases / metabolism
  • Cold Temperature
  • Droughts
  • Gene Duplication
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / chemistry
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Inflorescence / growth & development
  • Inflorescence / metabolism
  • Nicotiana / cytology
  • Nicotiana / genetics
  • Nicotiana / metabolism
  • Oryza / growth & development
  • Oryza / physiology*
  • Phylogeny
  • Plant Proteins / chemistry
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / cytology
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Salinity
  • Seeds / growth & development
  • Seeds / metabolism
  • Stress, Physiological*

Substances

  • Plant Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Calcium-Transporting ATPases
  • Calcium