Gene cloning and characterization of a nonspecific lipid transfer protein from sheep grass, Aneurolepidium chinense, grown in semiarid area

摘要

To survive under and cope with the environmental stress, plants respond by physiological and biochemical changes. We used sheep grass (Aneurolepidium chinense), which is stress tolerant, to elucidate the genes related to the stress tolerance. We isolated a nonspecific lipid transfer protein gene (Acltp) as one of salt-stress related genes by differential display and cloned it. Non specific LTPs were encoded by small multigene families and generally possessactivity which enhances the tranfer of several classes of phospholipids and/or glycolipids between cellular membranes. A variety of possible functions have been proposed for plant nsLTPs, including involvement in biosynthesis of epicuticular wax or cuticle (Sterk et al., 1991) and pathogen-defense (Molina et al., 1993). Moreover, several reports suggested that LTP must be related with environmental stress response (Torres-Shumann et al., 1992). We report here the relationship between environmental stress and nsLTP in sheep grass. Abscisic acid (ABA) seems an important factor for the response of Acltp. From the view point of biotic stress, we also confirmed the response of Acltp to salicylic acid. (SA).