Background: NACs are one of the major transcription factor families in plants which play an important role in plant growth and development, as well as in adverse stress responses.
Methods: In this study, we cloned a salt-inducible NAC transcription factor gene (NAC13) from a poplar variety 84K, followed by transforming it into both tobacco and Arabidopsis.
Results: Stable expression analysis of 35S::NAC13-GFP fusion protein in Arabidopsis indicated that NAC13 was localized to the nucleus. We also obtained five transgenic tobacco lines. Evidence from morphological and physiological characterization and salt treatment analyses indicated that the transgenic tobacco enhanced salt tolerance, suggesting that NAC13 gene may function as a positive regulator in tobacco responses to salt stress. Furthermore, evidence from yeast two-hybrid screening demonstrated that NAC13 protein functions as a transcriptional activator, with an activation domain located in the C-terminal region.
Discussion: NAC13 gene plays an important role in response to salt stress in tobacco. Future studies are needed to shed light on molecular mechanisms of gene regulation and gene networks related to NAC13 gene in response to salt stress, which will provide a valuable theoretical basis for forest genetic breeding and resistant breeding.
Improved salt tolerance in transgenic tobacco by over-expression of poplar NAC13 gene
