Characterization and expression profile of CaNAC2 pepper gene

Abstract

The plant-specific NAC (NAM, ATAF, and CUC) transcription factors have dive role in development and stress regulation. A new transcript encoding NAC protc homologous to nam-like protein 4 from Petunia was identified from an ABA-regula1 subtractive cDNA library of Capsicum annuum seedling. Here, this homolog (nam CaNAC2)fromC. annuum was characterized and investigated its role in abiotic str tolerance. Our results indicated that a plant-specific and conserved NAC domain w located in the N-terminus domain of CaNAC2 which was predicted to encode polypeptide of 410 amino acids. Phylogenetic analysis showed that CaNAC2 belong to the NAC2 subgroup of the orthologous group 4d. The protein CaNAC2 w subcellularly localized in the nucleus and it had transcriptional activity in yeast c CaNAC2 was expressed mainly in seed and root. The transcription expression CaNAC2 was strongly induced by cold, salt and ABA treatment and inhibited by osmo stress and SA treatment. Silence of CaNAC2 in virus-induced gene silenced pep seedlings resulted in the increased susceptibility to cold stress and delayed the s induced leaf chlorophyll degradation. These results indicated that this novel CaNA gene might be involved in pepper response to abiotic stress tolerance.