Identification of heat stress-induced differentially expressed genes of Siberian wildrye grass (Elymus sibiricus L.) leaves

The present study investigated the responses of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in Siberian wildrye grass leaf to heat stress. Siberian wildrye grass seedlings were subjected to heat treatment at 42 degrees C for 6 h. To identify heat-responsible DEGs in Siberian wildrye grass leaves, we performed an annealing control primer-based differential display reverse transcriptase PCR (ACP-based DDRT-PCR) strategy. Using 120 arbitrary ACP sets, a total of 3 up-regulated and 3 newly synthesized DGEs were visualized via agarose gel stain following sequencing. To gain functional information about these genes and investigate their tentative homologies, a BlastX search was applied using the highest homology. These DEGs were identified as serine carboxypeptidase-like protein, ribosomal protein S19, RNA polymerase beta subunit, heat shock protein (HSP) 16.9C, HSP 83 and 17.9 kDa class I HSP-like. The present study showed that 3 HSPs, including 2 small HSPs, were newly synthesized by heat stress. The identification of heatresponsible genes may offer a better understanding of the heat stress response in crop plants. Furthermore, newly induced genes may play pivotal role for protection of cellular damage caused by heat stress.