부산대학교 도서관

FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs), which belongto the peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase superfamily, areinvolved in plant response to abiotic stresses. A number ofFKBP family genes have been isolated in plants, but littlehas been reported of FKBP genes in maize. In this study, adrought-induced FKBP gene, ZmFKBP20-1, was isolated frommaize and was characterized for its role in stress responsesusing gene expression, protein subcellular localization,transformation in Arabidopsis, expression patterns of thestress-responsive genes, and physiological parameter analysis. During drought and salt stresses, ZmFKBP20-1 transgenicArabidopsis plants exhibited enhanced tolerance, which wasconcomitant with the altered expression of stress/ABAresponsivegenes, such as COR15a, COR47, ERD10, RD22,KIN1, ABI1, and ABI2. The resistance characteristics ofZmFKBP20-1 overexpression were associated with a significantincrease in survival rate. These results suggested thatZmFKBP20-1 plays a positive role in drought and salt stressresponses in Arabidopsis and provided new insights into themechanisms of FKBP in response to abiotic stresses inplants.