Isolation and Characterization of GhLEA3 Gene from Upland Cotton and Its Expression in Response to Low Temperature Stress

[Objective] Based on the analysis of cotton GhLEA3 gene structure and its expression model in chilling stress, we investigated the resistance function of GhLEA3 in response to cold stress. [Method] We cloned GhLEA3 from upland cotton by homologous sequence cloning way. We analyzed the properties of the GhLEA3, and constructed phylogenetic tree by bioinformatics analysis. We constructed the transient expression vector 35S∷GhLEA3-GFP by In-Fusion connection technology and studied the subcellular localization of GhLEA3. The expression of GhLEA3 gene in leaves of TM-1 at three-leaf stage under low temperature stress treatments (4 ℃, 24 h) was performed. Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated floral dipping method was used to transform the gene with expression vector 35S∷GhLEA3-GFP into Arabidopsis thaliana wild type. Low temperature germination experiment at 4 ℃ was conducted to verify germination ability of the transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana T₃ seed. The transgenic Arabidopsis seedlings were treated at 4 ℃(low temperature), and all the leaves were taken to measure their electrical conductivity. [Result] The coding sequence of GhLEA3 gene is 1 218 bp, which encodes 405 amino acids. GhLEA3 protein includes 4 functional domains of PF02987. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the similarity of amino acid sequences between upland cotton GhLEA3 and Arabidopsis thaliana AtLEA3 was 52.6%. GhLEA3 might be mainly localized in vacuoles and small vesicles. GhLEA3 was up-regulated in leaves after low temperature treatment. The germination rate of transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana of T₃ generation at low temperature was significantly higher than that of wild type, and its electrical conductivity of leaves after low temperature treatment was significantly lower than that of wild type. [Conclusion] GhLEA3 belonged to the member of LEA3 family. Phylogenetic analysis showed that GhLEA3 had the closest relationship with AtLEA3. GhLEA3 was induced by low temperature stress and may play an important role in improving cold resistance.