Analysis of structure and transcriptional activation of an osmotin gene.

A Nicotiana tabacum gene encoding the basic PR-like protein osmotin was isolated and characterized. The gene is derived from the N. sylvestris parent of N. tabacum. In cell suspension cultures of tobacco, the osmotin gene was shown to be transcriptionally activated by treatment with ABA. Transcriptional activation of the osmotin promoter was further investigated in transformed plants carrying copies of a fusion of the cloned promoter to the beta-glucuronidase reporter gene. In these plants, the osmotin promoter is transcriptionally activated by the hormones ABA and ethylene. The sensitivity of the osmotin promoter to ABA applied exogenously decreased with age in both roots and shoots of young seedlings. NaCl shock also activated the promoter in plant tissues. The osmotin promoter is much more active in root tissues than in shoot tissues.