Sugarcane calcineurin B-like (CBL) genes play important but versatile roles in regulation of responses to biotic and abiotic stresses
Weihua Su, Long Huang, Hui Ling, Huaying Mao, Ning Huang, Yachun Su, Yongjuan Ren, Dongjiao Wang, Liping Xu, Khushi Muhammad, Youxiong Que
Abstract
Abstract Free calcium ions are common second messengers in plant cells. The calcineurin B-like protein (CBL) is a special calcium sensor that plays an important role in plant growth and stress response. In this study, we obtained three CBL genes (GenBank accession nos. KX013374, KX013375, and KX013376) from sugarcane variety ROC22. The open reading frames of ScCBL genes ranged from 642 to 678 base pairs in length and encoded polypeptides from 213 to 225 amino acids in length. ScCBL2-1, ScCBL3-1, and ScCBL4 were all located in the plasma membrane and cytoplasm. ScCBL 2- 1 and ScCBL 3- 1 expression was up-regulated by treatment with salicylic acid (SA), methyl jasmonate (MeJA), hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), polyethylene glycol (PEG), sodium chloride (NaCl), or copper chloride (CuCl 2 ). ScCBL 4 expression was down-regulated in response to all of these stresses (abscisic acid (ABA), SA, MeJA, and NaCl) except for H 2 O 2 , calcium chloride (CaCl 2 ), PEG, and CuCl 2 . Expression in Escherichia coli BL21 cells showed that ScCBLs can enhance tolerance to NaCl or copper stress. Overexpression of ScCBLs in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves promoted their resistance to infection with the tobacco pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum . The results from the present study facilitate further research regarding ScCBL genes, and in particular, their roles in the response to various stresses in sugarcane.