Cis-regulatory element-based genome-wide identification of DREB1/CBF targets in Arabidopsis

Microarray analysis is used to identify transcriptional targets. However, the direct targets of transcription factors cannot be distinguished from indirect ones; further, genes with low-expression levels cannot be identified by this method. In the present study, we exploit the cis-element dehydration-responsive element (DRE) that is known to be responsible for the transcription of DRE binding factor 1 (DREB1) targets in the promoter region of all Arabidopsis genes. Putative targets whose promoters contain the elements were verified by both microarray and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. Five new DREB1/CBF direct targets were identified. Compared with traditional microarray analysis, our method is convenient and cost-effective for identifying the downstream targets of transcription factors.