Transgenic tobacco expressing Entamoeba histolytica calcium binding protein exhibits enhanced growth and tolerance to salt stress

Calcium has been recognized as an important signal in many abiotic stresses. Our earlier work indicated the presence of homologues of a novel calcium binding protein from Entamoeba histolytica (EhCaBP) and its binding proteins with kinase activity in different plants. In this paper, we demonstrate the transfer of EhCaBP cDNA into tobacco via Agrobacterium mediated transformation. The transgenic plants expressing EhCaBP proteins were identified using western blots and immuno-precipitation of the labeled EhCaBP protein. The seeds obtained from the transgenic plants exhibited enhanced rate of germination and increased growth and had 20-37% more dry weight in 3 weeks old seedlings compared to wild type controls. The seeds of transgenic plants were also able to germinate and grow on 200 mM NaCl. The dry weight of different EhCaBP expressing plants maintained on NaCl was 55-100% more as compared to wild type plants. The increased growth and tolerance to salinity conditions were correlated with the expression of EhCaBP protein in the transgenic plants. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.