Molecular cloning and functional analysis of an ERF gene from cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)

Ethylene response factors (ERFs) play important roles in regulating plant biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. In this paper, a new ethylene response factor gene GhERF1 was isolated from cotton. The deduced amino acid sequence of GhERF1 contained an AP2/ERF domain, which shared high similarity with other reported AP2/ERF domains and was most closely related to the B3 subgroup of the ERF subfamily. The particle bombardment assay showed that GhERF1 functioned as an in vivo transcription activator in tobacco cells and was localized in the nuclei of onion epidermis cells. In addition, semi-quantitative RT-PCR revealed that GhERF1 accumulated highly and rapidly when plants were treated with exogenous ethylene, abscisic acid (ABA), high salinity, cold and drought. These results suggested that GhERF1 might be functionally important in acclimation of cotton to stress.