Molecular characterization of a novel AP2 transcription factor ThWIND1-L from Thellungiella halophila

Several AP2/ERF transcription factors are wound-induced regulators, which play key roles in controlling cell dedifferentiation. In this study, a novel AP2/ERF transcription factor, the WIND1-like gene (ThWIND1-L), was isolated and characterized from Thellungiella halophila. ThWIND1-L cDNA clone contained a full open reading frame (ORF) of 1,068 bp encoding 356 amino acids. The predicted amino acid sequence of ThWIND1-L cDNA shared remarkably high degree of identity with the Arabidopsis RAP2.4 (WIND1). The expression of ThWIND1-L rapidly responded to the wound signals, ectopic expression of ThWIND1-L in Arabidopsis plants promoted callus tissue formation without the presence of exogenous hormones. Furthermore, overexpression of ThWIND1-L influenced some primary transcription factors (TFs), which have been shown to be involved in cell dedifferentiation and shoot regeneration. These results indicated ThWIND1-L might be a wound-induced regulator, which played an important role in the control of cell dedifferentiation.