Ectopic overexpression of wheat TaSrg6 gene confers water stress tolerance in Arabidopsis

Transcriptional regulation plays a key role in plant response to abiotic stresses. Study in barley indicated that a stress-responsive gene (Srg6), as potential transcriptional regulator, was induced by various abiotic stresses. However, functional roles of Srg proteins in stress tolerance are unknown. In this study, we isolated a wheat homolog of barley Srg6 gene, and designated TaSrg6. Expression analysis indicated that expression of TaSrg6 gene is induced by various stress treatments, including PEG, salt, low temperature and ABA. The fusion protein GFP-TaSrg6 was concentrated in the nucleus when transiently expressed in onion epidermal cells. Overexpression of TaSrg6 gene in Arabidopsis conferred water stress tolerance in terms of survival rate, CMS value and relative water loss. We concluded that TaSrg6 protein played an important role in the enhancement of water stress tolerance in plants.