Constructions of Banana MaAQP1 Bait Vector and Drought-resistance cDNA Library

  Objective  To clone MaAQP1 from a drought stressed banana plant using a constructed bait vector, and establish a cDNA library of the transformed drought-resistance gene from single-hybrids yeast cells.

  Method  The promoter of MaAQP1 from a banana plant (Musa acuminat L. AAA group cv. Brazilian) under draught-stress was constructed on the pHIS2 plasmid as the bait to be transformed into yeast cells for the gene cloning. A cDNA library of MaAQP1 in the yeast was subsequently established for the study.

  Result  The MaAQP1 bait vector was successfully constructed. The sequence of the 1 362 bp promoter was cloned and analyzed to show 72 cis-acting TATA-box and CAAT-box core elements as well as elements of MYB, MYC, ERE, and MeJA as well as those of ABA, light, and meristem responses, etc. A drought-resistance cDNA library of 1.25×10⁷ CFU in capacity with an average insert size of about 1 200 bp was established.

  Conclusion  The results provided a basis for screening transcription factors of the cloned MaAQP1 in the yeast single-hybrids to decipher the mechanism of MaAQP1 in response to drought for improving the stress resistance of plants.