biologia plantarum

Biologia plantarum 60:235-243, 2016 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-015-0579-x

Characterization and expression analysis of histone deacetylases family RPD3/HDA1 in Populus trichocarpa

X. J. Ma^1,*, C. P. Yang¹, D. A. Xia^1,*

¹ State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, P.R. China

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) catalyze histone deacetylation and play an important role in suppression of gene transcription in multiple cellular processes. HDACs are widely distributed in eukaryotes, however, detailed characterrization of HDACs in woody plants is not available. In this study, the sequences of reduced potassium dependency 3/histone deacetylase 1 (RPD3/HDA1) family proteins in black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa Torr. & A. Gray) were characterized and their expression patterns in response to cold and salt stresses were determined. The RPD3/HDA1 proteins had conserved HDAC domains and can be divided into three classes based on sequence similarity and phylogenetic analysis. The transcripts of the HDAC genes were detected in different amounts in leaves, stems, and roots. The expressions of HDAC genes HDA902, HDA903, HDA904, HDA909, and HDA912 were up-regulated in a cold stress. Interestingly, in a salt stress, most of the HDAC genes were down-regulated. These results indicate that the poplar HDAC genes were regulated by the cold and salt stresses, and the members of the RPD3/HDA1 family play a role in stress responses.

Keywords: black cottonwood; cold; gene expression; salinity

Subjects: gene expression; histone deacetylase; cold stress; salinity; phylogenetic analysis; black cottonwood

Received: April 21, 2015; Revised: August 3, 2015; Accepted: August 10, 2015; Published: June 1, 2016  Show citation