Expression analysis of genes encoding mitogen-activated protein kinases in maize provides a key link between abiotic stress signaling and plant reproduction.

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) play important roles in stress responses and development in plants. Maize (Zea mays), an important cereal crop, is a model plant species for molecular studies. In the last decade, several MAPKs have been identified in maize; however, their functions have not been studied extensively. Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of maize MAPK genes could provide valuable information for understanding their functions. In this study, 20 non-redundant maize MAPK genes (ZmMPKs) were identified via a genome-wide survey. Phylogenetic analysis of MAPKs from maize, rice (Oryza sativa), Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), poplar (Populus trichocarpa), and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) classified them into four major classes. ZmMPKs in the same class had similar domains, motifs, and genomic structures. Gene duplication investigations suggested that segmental duplications made a large contribution to the expansion of ZmMPKs. A number of cis-acting elements related to plant development and response to stress and hormones were identified in the promoter regions of ZmMPKs. Furthermore, transcript profile analysis in eight tissues and organs at various developmental stages demonstrated that most ZmMPKs were preferentially expressed in reproductive tissues and organs. The transcript abundance of most ZmMPKs changed significantly under salt, drought, cold, or abscisic acid (ABA) treatments, implying that they might participate in abiotic stress and ABA signaling. These expression analyses indicated that ZmMPKs might serve as linkers between abiotic stress signaling and plant reproduction. Our data will deepen our understanding of the complexity of the maize MAPK gene family and provide new clues to investigate their functions.

[Dynamics of Cry1ab protein content in the rhizosphere soil and straw debris of transgenic Bt corn].

By using ELISA test kits, a field investigation was conducted on the degradation dynamics of CrylAb protein in the rhizosphere soil of Bt corn MON810 at its different growth stages and in the MON810 straws returned into field after harvest. Three models (shift-log model, exponential model, and bi-exponential model) were used to fit the degradation dynamics of the Cry1 Ab protein from the straw debris, and the DT50 and DT90, values were estimated. There existed great differences in the CrylAb protein content in the rhizosphere soil of MON810 at its different growth stages, but overall, the CrylAb protein content was decreased remarkably with the growth of MON810. The degradation of Cry1 Ab protein from the straws covered on soil surface and buried in soil showed the same two-stage pattern, i.e., more rapid at early stage and slow-stable in later period. Within the first week after straw return, the degradation rate of the CrylAb protein from the straws covered on soil surface was significantly higher than that from the straws buried in soil. At 10 d, the degradation rate of the CrylAb protein from the straws covered on soil surface and buried in soil was basically the same, being 88.8% and 88.6%, respectively. After 20 days, the degradation of CrylAb protein entered slow-stable stage. Till at 180 d, a small amount of Cry1Ab protein could still be detected in the straw debris. All of the three models used in this study could fit the decay pattern of the CrylAb protein from the straw debris in field. By comparing the correlation coefficient (r) and the consistency between the measured and calculated DT90, bi-exponential model was considered to be the best.