Complementary DNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP-cDNA) analysis of differential gene expression from the xerophyte Ammopiptanthus mongolicus in response to cold, drought and cold together with drought

Abstract

In this study, we examine Ammopiptanthus mongolicus, the only desert ultra-broad-leaved evergreen shrub in Northwest China. During this study, A. mongolicus was exposed to drought 20% polyethylene glycol (PEG)), low temperature (4°C) and a combination of drought and low temperature (20% PEG and 4°C). Complementary DNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism (cDNA-AFLP) technology was used to analyze differential transcriptional expression under the aforementioned abiotic stresses. We found that 9 of the studied expressed sequence tags (ESTs) are related to protein modification, 12 ESTs are involved in the control of transcription and translation, 9 ESTs are involved in metabolism, 11 ESTs are related to aging and defense genes, 1 EST plays a role in signal transduction, 3 ESTs are related to cell development, 3 ESTs may play a role in energy production and photosynthesis, 2 ESTs are related to protein transport and 49 ESTs are of unknown significance.

Key words: Ammopiptanthus mongolicus, cDNA-AFLP (Amplified fragment length polymorphism), differential gene expression.