Characterization of gene expression of QM from Caragana jubata, a plant species that grows under extreme cold

Caragana [Caragana jubata (Pall.) Poir] is a temperate plant that thrives well under extremes of cold in high altitude of Himalaya and hence the plant is expected to be a source of genes that might play an important role in tolerance to low temperature (LT). In order to identify LT inducible gene(s), differential display of mRNA (DD) was performed using the apical buds growing under snow as well as growing in the near vicinity without snow, and a LT inducible QM gene (CjQM) homologue was identified. Realizing the importance of QM gene (which encodes human Wilms' tumor suppressor QM protein) in aggregation of 40 and 60S ribosomal subunit and that not much has been reported on this gene in plant systems in relation to its relationship with LT, full length cDNA of CjQM was cloned through rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The gene (977 bp), encoded by small gene family, had an open reading frame of 651 bp and was found to be intronless. The gene exhibited up-regulation within 20 min of exposure to LT and abscisic acid (ABA), but no significant change in gene expression was observed in response to drought stress (DS), salicylic acid (SA) and methyl jasmonate (MJ) application. Up-regulation of CjQM was obtained in the tissues growing in situ under snow. Non-responsiveness of CjQM towards DS, SA and MJ, but up-regulation in response to LT and ABA suggested a specific regulation of the gene in Caragana under varied cues.