We used a microarray dataset that is deposited in the public database to evaluate plant responses to heat stress and selected two genes, OsSHSP1 (Os03g16030) and OsSHSP2 (Os01g04380), that are highly expressed under heat stress in rice. OsSHSP1 and OsSHSP2 gene transcripts were highly induced in response to salt and drought. In addition, OsSHSP1 and OsSHSP2 gene transcripts were induced under ABA and SA. Subcellular localization of proteins of 35S::OsSHSP1 were associated with the cytosol, whereas those of and 35S::OsSHSP2 were associated with the cytosol and nucleus. Heterogeneous overexpression of both genes exhibited higher germination rates than those of wild-type plants under the salt treatment, but not under heat or drought stress. The network of both genes harboring 9 sHSPs as well as at least 13 other chaperone genes might support the idea of a role for sHSPs in the chaperone network. Our findings might provide clues to shed light on the molecular functions of OsSHSP1 and OsSHSP2 in response to abiotic stresses, especially heat stress.

• Jun-Cheol Moon(Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Institute, Kangwon Nat’l Univ.)
• Deok-Jae Ham(Plant Genomics Lab., Dept. of Applied Plant Sci., Kangwon Nat’l Univ.)
• Sun-Goo Hwang(Plant Genomics Lab., Dept. of Applied Plant Sci., Kangwon Nat’l Univ.)
• Sung Don Lim(Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Institute, Kangwon Nat’l Univ.)
• Cheol Seong Jang(Plant Genomics Lab., Dept. of Applied Plant Sci., Kangwon Nat’l Univ.) Corresponding Author