Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2025

Imaging and Analysis for Quantifying Maize (Zea mays) Abiotic Stress Phenotypes
Published on: March 28, 2025
Maize ZmBES1/BZR1-1 transcription factor negatively regulates drought tolerance
Wenqi Feng1, Hongwanjun Zhang1, Yang Cao1
1Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.
Abstract:
Drought stress is a common abiotic factor and restricts plant growth and development. Exploring maize stress-related genes and their regulatory mechanisms is crucial for ensuring agricultural productivity and food security. The BRI1-EMS1 suppressor (BES1)/brassinazole-resistant 1 (BZR1) transcription factors (TFs) play important roles in plant growth, development, and stress response. However, maize ZmBES1/BZR1s are rarely reported. In the present study, the ZmBES1/BZR1-1 gene was cloned from maize B73 and functionally characterized in transgenic Arabidopsis and rice in drought stress response. The ZmBES1/BZR1-1 protein possessed a conserved bHLH domain characterized by BES1/BZR1 TFs, localized in the nucleus, and showed transcription activation activity. The expression of ZmBES1/BZR1-1 exhibited no tissue specificity but drought-inhibitory expression in maize. Under drought stress, overexpression of ZmBES1/BZR1-1 resulted in the enhancement of drought sensitivity of transgenic Arabidopsis and rice with a lower survival rate, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and relative water content (RWC) and a higher stomatal aperture and relative electrolyte leakage (REL). The RNA-seq results showed that 56 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were regulated by ZmBES1/BZR1-1 by binding to E-box elements in their promoters. The GO analysis showed that the DEGs were significantly annotated with response to oxidative stress and oxygen level. The study suggests that the ZmBES1/BZR1-1 gene negatively regulates drought stress, which provides insights into further underlying molecular mechanisms in the drought stress response mediated by BZR1/BES1s.
Related Concept Videos
Responses to Drought and Flooding
Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss
Regulation of Transpiration by Stomata
Responses to Salt Stress
Transcription
Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in the proper synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA). Regulation of transcription is responsible for the differentiation of all the different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds...
Gene Regulation During Sporulation

