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Abstract
Basic leucine zipper proteins (bZIPs) are transcription factors that bind abscisic
acid (ABA)-responsive elements (ABREs) and enable plants to withstand adverse environmental
conditions. In the present study, a novel bZIP gene, ThbZIP1 was cloned from Tamarix
hispida. Expression studies in T. hispida showed differential regulation of ThbZIP1
in response to treatment with NaCl, polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000, NaHCO(3), and
CdCl(2), suggesting that ThbZIP1 is involved in abiotic stress responses. To identify
the physiological responses mediated by ThbZIP1, transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing
exogenous ThbZIP1 were generated. Various physiological parameters related to salt
stress were measured and compared between transgenic and wild type (WT) plants. Our
results indicate that overexpression of ThbZIP1 can enhance the activity of both peroxidase
(POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and increase the content of soluble sugars and
soluble proteins under salt stress conditions. These results suggest that ThbZIP1
contributes to salt tolerance by mediating signaling through multiple physiological
pathways. Furthermore, ThbZIP1 confers stress tolerance to plants by enhancing reactive
oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, facilitating the accumulation of compatible osmolytes,
and inducing and/or enhancing the biosynthesis of soluble proteins.
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