Identification of genes of the plant-specific transcription-factor families cooperatively regulated by ethylene and jasmonate in Arabidopsis thaliana

Abstract

The analysis of expression patterns of transcription-factor genes will be the basis for a better understanding of their biological functions in plants. In this study, we designed and developed an oligo-DNA macroarray consisting of gene-specific probes of 60–65 nucleotides for 288 transcription-factor genes, which cover COL, DOF, ERF, and NAC family genes. To investigate transcription-factor genes that are cooperatively regulated by jasmonate and ethylene in arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh.) plants, we analyzed the expression profile of transcription-factor genes using the oligo-DNA macroarray technique in arabidopsis plants treated with methyl jasmonate and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid. Then, transcript levels of candidate genes—which were selected based on the result of macroarray analysis—were evaluated by the quantitative real-time RT-PCR method. Finally, we identified an ERF family gene that is cooperatively regulated by both hormones, and designated as c ooperatively regulated by e thylene and j asmonate 1 (CEJ1).