Abstract: To reveal the role and function of Zoysia japonica LEA protein in plant response to stress, a lea gene designated Zjlea3 from Zoysia japonica Meyer was cloned using RT-PCR. The bioinformatics analysis were performed on this gene.The results of protein physicochemical properties showed that the gene encoded a hydrophilic protein that contained 177 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 18.3 ku and a theoretical isoelectric point (pI) of 5.63. The protein belonged to the Group3 of the LEA family, containing 9 repeats of the 11-mer motif that characterized the group. The phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that the Zjlea3 was closely related to thehomologous protein from high temperature tolerance species such as Sorghum bicolo r and S. halepense. Fluorescence quantitative analysis showed that the expression of Zjlea3 gene was up-regulated under low temperature, drought and high salt stress, with the peak levels at 72, 24, 72 h, respectively, and with the greatest modulation under low temperature stress. The stress resistance analysis of transgenic yeast indicated that yeast cells harboring Zjlea3 had significantly increased tolerance to freezing,salty and hyperosmotic stress.It is speculated that Zjlea3 protein is involved in the regulation of Zoysia japonica against abiotic stresses such as low temperature, drought and high salt.

Key words: LEA protein, Zoysia japonica, Abiotic stress, Expression pattern, Stress resistance function

CLC Number: 

• Q943.2