Cloning, Identification and Expression Pattern Analysis of Tobacco NtbZIP038

The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor comprise one of the largest and most diverse gene families in plants, which are important in plant growth and response to stresses. In order to explore the biological functions of the bZIP transcription factors in tobacco, a bZIP gene family transcription factor NtbZIP038 in K326 was cloned and its conserved domains were analyzed. Furthermore, the gene expression pattern was studied using qRT-PCR technology and subcellular localization analysis. Finally, transcription activation experiments were performed to identify its potential function as a transcription factor. The results showed that NtbZIP038 contains a typical bZIP domain. The NtbZIP038 protein was localized in the nucleus and had transactivation activity. The expression pattern analysis showed that NtbZIP038 were expressed with the highest level in the root (p<0.001), and there were obvious expression changes under abiotic stresses such as salt, drought, cold, heat, ABA, etc., especially after ABA treatment (p<0.001). Therefore, NtbZIP038, a typical bZIP transcription factor, may play an important role in root development, ABA response and abiotic stress response in tobacco.