Active Methyl Cycle and Transfer Related Gene Expression in Response to Drought Stress in Rice Leaves

Three rice varieties, Zhonghan 3, Shanyou 63 and Aizizhan, were used as materials in detecting differential active methyl cycle and transfer related gene expression in response to drought stress. The experiment was performed by gene chip and mRNA differential display technologies under the conditions of drought simulated with 10% PEG6000 solution. The results indicated that the methyl cycle could be activated in the leaves of Zhonghan 3 and Shanyou 63 but inhibited in the leaves of Aizizhan under drought stress. Furthermore, drought stress could induce the expression of a large number of methyltransferase genes, especially the transcription of Rubisco protein methylation related genes, which are beneficial for prevention of Rubisco protein oxidation and degradation, and drought stress could inhibit the transcription of DNA methyltransferase genes and histone methyltransferase genes. This result confirmed that the active methyl cycle and transfer related genes were involved in rice drought resistance.