A poplar DRE-binding protein gene, PeDREB2L, is involved in regulation of defense response against abiotic stress

Dehydration responsive element (DRE)-binding proteins comprise a family of proteins that have important roles in abiotic stress processes. The present study aimed at elucidating the molecular basis of the stress tolerance mechanism in poplar. We isolated a gene, PeDREB2L, from the desert tree Populus euphratica Oliva. PeDREB2L contains a conserved AP2/ERF domain, a nuclear localization signal at the N-terminus and a serine-rich region at the C-terminus. PeDREB2L binds specifically to DRE elements and is expressed ubiquitously in all tissues, including roots, stems, and leaves. Expression of PeDREB2L in leaves increased under dehydration, salt, and abscisic acid stress treatments. Furthermore, PeDREB2L-GFP ectopically expressed in Arabidopsis gave strong green fluorescent protein signals in the nucleus of transgenic Arabidopsis under unstressed conditions and resulted in an improved tolerance against drought and freezing under stress conditions, while the Arabidopsis protein gene DREB2A-GFP used as a control only gave a weak fluorescent. We expected that the PeDREB2L might be useful in improving abiotic stress tolerance in transgenic plants.