C. Medina

C. Tonelli

E. Cominelli

J.T. Matus

M. Galbiati

P. Arce-Johnson

P. Ca\uf1\uf3n

P. Francia

English

J. T. Matus

P. Cañón

P. Arce Johnson

AIR Universita degli studi di Milano

Functional analysis of a putative MYB60 orthologue: a candidate transcription factor for increasing drought tolerance in grapes (Vitis vinifera)J.T. MATUS1,3, M. GALBIATI2, E. COMINELLI2, P. FRANCIA2, C. TONELLI2, P. CAÑÓN3, C. MEDINA3 and P. ARCE-JOHNSON31Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; Departamento de Fruticultura y Enología. 2Universitá degli Studi di Milano, Italy. 3Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología.Correspondence to Patricio Arce-Johnson, fax +56-2-2225515, email parce@bio.puc.clKEYWORDSdrought • MYB • stomata • promoter • ArabidopsisBackground and Aims: Under drought conditions, plants accumulate the signalling hormone abscisic acid (ABA), inducing a rapid stomatal closure to prevent water loss. This phenomenon is generated by a series of signals produced inside guard cells which finally reduces their turgor. The Arabidopsis thaliana MYB60 gene codifies for a R2R3 MYB-subfamily transcription factor which is specifically expressed in guard cells, and its expression is negatively modulated during drought. A null mutation in AtMYB60 results in the constitutive reduction of stomatal opening and in decreased wilting under water stress conditions. In order to engineer stomatal responses as an approach to reduce water loss and enhance drought tolerance in grapevines, we have isolated and partially characterised a grape AtMYB60 homologue, isolated from Vitis vinifera cv. Cabernet Sauvignon leaves.Methods and Results:  VvMYB60 was isolated by means of RT-PCR and it is being functionally characterised in terms of organ and cell-specific gene expression, activity of promoter-GUS transcriptional fusions and mutant complementation. It is highly expressed in leaves and in reproductive organs. Its promoter posses’ abundant regulatory elements in response to light and water stress conditions, similarly to AtMYB60, although cell-guard specific regulatory elements were not found in the grape homologue. The nuclear localization of VvMYB60 was confirmed by translational fusions to GFP.Conclusions: We have isolated and partially characterised a putative MYB60 orthologue in Vitis. Ongoing experiments are being developed to produce a MYB60 loss of function in grapevines.Significance of the Study: Since this gene modulates the physiological response of guard cells it opens new possibilities for engineering stomatal activity and help plants survive desiccation.

Functional analysis of a putative MYB60 orthologue: a candidate transcription factor for increasing drought tolerance in grapes (Vitis vinifera)

https://air.unimi.it/bitstream/2434/62513/1/abstract%20australia.doc

Functional analysis of a putative MYB60 orthologue: a candidate transcription factor for increasing drought tolerance in grapes (Vitis vinifera)

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