Expression characterisation of cyclophilin BrROC1 during light treatment and abiotic stresses response in Brassica rapa subsp rapa 'Tsuda'

ROC1 is a prototypic peptidyl prolyl cis/trans isomerase (PPIase) of the plant cytosol belonging to the large subfamily of cyclophilins that are associated with diverse functions through foldase, scaffolding, chaperoning or other unknown activities. Although many functions of plant cyclophilins have been reported, the molecular basis of stress-responsive expression of plant cyclophilins is still largely unknown. To characterise the roles of BrROC1 during light treatment and their responses in various abiotic stresses, we identified BrROC1 genes and characterised their expression patterns in Brassica rapa subsp. rapa 'Tsuda'. Our results showed that BrROC1 genes are multi-family genes. Transcript level analysis showed BrROC1-2 expressed higher than BrROC1-1 in 0 to 6-day-old seedlings under natural light. Moreover, BrROC1-2 genes were also induced to highly express in the cotyledon, upper hypocotyls and lower hypocotyls of seedlings under UV-A and blue-light treatment. In addition, the transcript level of BrROC1-1 was higher in pigment tissues than that in unpigment tissues (cotyledon and lower hypocotyl) under UV-A and blue-light treatment. Furthermore, when the unpigment epidermis (shaded light) of 2-month-old 'Tsuda' turnip roots was exposed to UV-A light, transcript levels of the BrROC1-1 and BrROC1-2 were significantly increased with time prolongation. These two BrROC1 genes might be involved in UV-A-induced anthocyanin synthesis in the root epidermis of 'Tsuda' turnip, which accumulates high levels of anthocyanin. These two BrROC1 genes were also induced to be regulated by abiotic stresses such as high or low temperature, dehydration, osmotic and salt stresses. Then, the results indicate that BrROC1 genes are involved in light induction response and may play important roles in adaptation of plants to various environmental stresses.