Background: In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Msn2, which acts as a key transcription factor downstream the MAPK-HOG cascade pathway, also regulates the expression of genes related to stress responses. However, little is known about the regulation mechanisms of the transcription factor in Setosphaeria turcica. Results: In this study, a zinc finger DNA-binding protein, designated as SIMSN2, was cloned from S. turcica. Sequencing results showed that StMSN2 had a 1752 bp open reading frame (ORF), which was interrupted by an intron (135 bp) and encoded a putative 538-amino acid protein. Phylogenetic analysis further revealed that StMsn2 was more closely related to Msn2 of Aspergillus parasiticus.StMSN2 was cloned into the pET-28a vector with His (Histidine) tags and induced with 1 mM IPTG (isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactoside) at 37 degrees C. The recombinant His-tagged StMsn2 was purified, and a band of size approximately 58.8 kDa was obtained. The high specificity of the polyclonal antibody Msn2-2 was detected with the StMsn2 protein from S. turcica and prokaryotic expression system, respectively. Conclusions: A new gene, named StMSN2, with 1617 bp ORF was cloned from S. turcica and characterized using bioinformatics methods. StMsn2 was expressed and purified in a prokaryotic system. A polyclonal antibody, named Msn2-2, against StMsn2 with high specificity was identified. (C) 2019 Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.