The cloning and characterization of a DEAD-Box RNA helicase from stress-responsive wheat

•We cloned a DEAD-box RNA Helicase TaRH1 from the wheat responding to biotic and abiotic stresses.•TaRH1 may positively regulate the resistance in the interaction of wheat and pst.•TaRH1 has a weak unwinding in vitro.

DEAD-box RNA helicases play important roles in all types of processes in RNA metabolism. This report characterizes a stress-responsive transcript termed TaRH1 (Triticum aestivum RNA helicase) that encodes a putative ATP-dependent RNA helicase and is a member of the DEAD-box family. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis indicated that the TaRH1 gene was differentially expressed under both biotic and several abiotic stresses. The characteristics are given of the TaRH1-catalysed unwinding of duplex RNA following TaRH1 expression in Escherichia coli BL 21. These results suggest that the TaRH1 gene may participate in the plant stress response.