Identification and Characterization of mRNA transcripts differentially expressed in response to high salinity using DD-AFLP in Aeluropus lagopoides

Aeluropus lagopoides a wild relative of wheat (Triticum aestivum L) is a high salt tolerant grass from Poaceae family, distributed widely in arid regions. No studies have yet focused on the molecular aspects of Aeluropus adaptation to salinity. Using DD-AFLP technique, we screened approximately 1500 transcripts derived fragments, of which 21 (1.4%) showed clear variation in presence/absence between stressed and non-stressed medium. The relative abundance of these transcripts was then analyzed by reverse northern. Eleven fragments were reamplified, cloned, and sequenced. Sequence comparison of these cDNAs, identified in response to high salinity in A. lagopoides, revealed that majority of them present homologies with proteins in other members of this family, encode putative salt stress responsive ones involve in cell osmotic adjustment such as and betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH). A number of them encode proteins related to signal transduction pathways. The identification and characterization of salt stress-responsive genes in A. lagopoides provides the emergence of physiological understanding of the patterns of gene expression and regulation involve in the salt stress responses.

Identification and Characterization of mRNA transcripts differentially expressed in response to high salinity using DD-AFLP in Aeluropus lagopoides Keywords:

Aeluropus lagopoides , DD-AFLP , salt stress , stress-inducible transcripts