Expression Analysis of MYC Genes from Tamarix hispida in Response to Different Abiotic Stresses.docVIP

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2012, 13, 1300-1313; doi:10.3390/ijmOPEN ACCESS International Journal of Molecular Sciences ISSN 1422-0067 /journal/ijms Article Expression Analysis of MYC Genes from Tamarix hispida in Response to Different Abiotic Stresses Xiaoyu Ji, Yucheng Wang and Guifeng Liu * State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, 26 Hexing Road, 150040 Harbin, China; E-Mails: jixy0219@ (X.J.); wangyucheng1029@ (Y.W.) * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: guifengliu@; Tel.: +86-451 Fax: +86-451-2190607-11. Received: 6 December 2011; in revised form: 11 January 2012 / Accepted: 12 January 2012 / Published: 25 January 2012 Abstract: The MYC genes are a group of transcription factors containing both bHLH and ZIP motifs that play important roles in the regulation of abscisic acid (ABA)-responsive genes. In the present study, to investigate the roles of MYC genes under NaCl, osmotic and ABA stress conditions, nine MYC genes were cloned from Tamarix hispida. Real-time reverse-transcriptase (RT)-PCR showed that all nine MYC genes were expressed in root, stem and leaf tissues, but that the levels of the transcripts of these genes in the various tissues differed notably. The MYC genes were highly induced in the roots in response to ABA, NaCl and osmotic stresses after 3 h; however, in the stem and leaf tissues, MYC genes were highly induced only when exposed to these stresses for 6 h. In addition, most of these MYC genes were highly expressed in roots in comparison with stems and leaves. Furthermore, the MYC genes were more highly induced in roots than in stem and leaf tissues, indicating that these genes may play roles in stress responses mainly in the roots rather than the stems and leaves. The results of this present study suggest that MYCs are involved in salt and osmotic stress tolerances and are contro