Download Functional genomics strategy from gene discovery to evaluation of

Functional genomics strategy from gene discovery to evaluation of stress tolerance phenotypes
We conducted a genetic yeast screen to identify salt tolerance (SAT) genes in maize kernel cDNA library.
During the screening, we identified a maize clone (SAT2) that seemed to confer elevated salt tolerance in
comparison to control cells. SAT2 cDNA encodes a 70-kDa protein which is 67 % identical to the
Arabidopsis GA MYB-binding protein (AtSAT2). To further examine salinity tolerance in Arabidopsis,
we functionally characterized the AtSAT2 gene and found that dehydration as well as abscisic acid (ABA)
induced AtSAT2 expression. Overexpression of AtSAT2 in transgenic Arabidopsis plants displays a
reduced sensitivity toward ABA during seedling growth and increased salt tolerance, whereas reductions
in AtSAT2 expression caused ABA hypersensitivity in seedling growth and appeared abnormal phenotype.
Additionally, the AtSAT2-overexpressing plants exhibit markedly enhanced dehydration tolerance. These
results may suggest a role of AtSAT2, acting as a potential transcription regulator between ABA signaling
and water deficit.