Expression analysis of some genes involved in signaling networks of Aeluropus littoralis (Gouan) Parl. under salinity stress

Plants respond to the destructive effects of salinity through changes in physiological and molecular processes. In the present study, the activity of SOD and APX antioxidant enzymes and changes in the expression of G-types-LecRLK, CIPK20, HSFA1a and C3H-ZF genes, involved in signaling and regulatory networks of Aeluropus littoralis, under salt stress has been investigated. The plant cuttings were cultured hydroponically under controlled conditions. The experimental design was consisted of a control (Hoagland’s solution without NaCl addition) and two treatments (200 and 400 mM NaCl). After 72 h of salt treatment, leaf samples were harvested and H2O2 content, SOD and APX enzymes activity and also changes in gene expression were measured by qRT-PCR. The results showed that the activity of antioxidant enzymes in both 200 and 400 mM NaCl concentration was significantly increased (P<0.05). The lecRLK gene expression was not significantly changed among different treatments. The expression of CIPK20 gene were decreased 7 and 16 folds lower than control at 200 and 400 mM of NaCl treatments, respectively. The obtained results revealed that expression of HSFA1a gene was positively associated with salt concentration (P<0.05). So that, the expression of HSFA1a in 200 and 400 mM NaCl was 11 and 13 folds more than control, respectively. The expression of ZF30 gene was decreased significantly in both 200 and 400 mM NaCl treatments (P<0.05). The results showed that the expression pattern of studied genes is different under salt stress conditions that can be related to the role of each gene, salt concentration and stress duration.