To characterize CBF/DREB1-homologue in rice, nine OsDREB1 genes have been identified and characterized in this lab. Among these, it was shown that OsDREB1D was induced by drought and slightly by cold stress. We found that OsDREB1A, -1D, and -1E could up-regulate OsDhn1:LUC construct in transactivation assay using rice protoplasts. Transgenic rice plants overexpressing OsDREB1D under the maize ubiquitin promoter (Ubi:OsDREB1D) revealed an enhanced stress tolerance to drought. We also generated transgenic rice of OsDREB1D under OsPOX1 promoter (OsPOX1:OsDREB1D), which is cold stress inducible preferentially in the reproductive organs of rice. We are currently examining the mechanism of the enhanced tolerance of the transgenic plants to drought stress using both molecular physiological and biochemical techniques.

• Seong-Ryong Kim(Department of Life Science, Sogang University)
• Manu Kumar(Department of Life Science, Sogang University)
• Hyun-Kyung Kim(Department of Life Science, Sogang University)
• Sang-Choon Lee(Department of Life Science, Sogang University)