Zinc finger proteins are widely involved and play an important role in plant growth and abiotic stress. In this research,
MdZAT5, a gene encoding C2H2-type zinc finger protein, was cloned and investigated. The
MdZAT5 was highly expressed in flower tissues by qRT-PCR
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Zinc finger proteins are widely involved and play an important role in plant growth and abiotic stress. In this research,
MdZAT5, a gene encoding C2H2-type zinc finger protein, was cloned and investigated. The
MdZAT5 was highly expressed in flower tissues by qRT-PCR analyses and GUS staining. Promoter analysis showed that
MdZAT5 contained multiple response elements, and the expression levels of
MdZAT5 were induced by various abiotic stress treatments. Overexpression of
MdZAT5 in apple calli positively regulated anthocyanin accumulation by activating the expressions of anthocyanin biosynthesis-related genes. Overexpression of
MdZAT5 in
Arabidopsis also enhanced the accumulation of anthocyanin. In addition,
MdZAT5 increased the sensitivity to salt stress in apple calli. Ectopic expression of
MdZAT5 in
Arabidopsis reduced the expression of salt-stress-related genes (
AtNHX1 and
AtABI1) and improved the sensitivity to salt stress. In conclusion, these results suggest that
MdZAT5 plays a positive regulatory role in anthocyanin accumulation and negatively regulates salt resistance.
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