LebZIP2 induced by salt and drought stress and transient overexpression by Agrobacterium

The full-length cDNA of LebZIP2 (Lycopersicon esculentum bZIP2) encodes a protein of 164 amino acids and contains a N-terminal basic-region leucine zipper domain. Analysis of the deduced tomato LebZIP2 amino acid sequence revealed that it shares 85% sequence identity with both tobacco bZIP and pepper CcbZIP. LebZIP2 mRNA is expressed at a high level exclusively in flowers. Presently, LebZIP2 was strongly increased also following NaCl and mannitol treatments. No significant LebZIP2 expression was evident following cold treatment. Transient LebZIP2 overexpression resulted in increased NbNOA1 and NbNR transcript levels in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Our results indicate that LebZIP2 might play roles as an abiotic stress-signaling pathway and as a transcriptional regulator of the NbNOA1 or NbNR genes.