Isolation and characterization of a new Na+/H+ antiporter gene OsNHA1 from rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The full-length cDNA (3612 bp) of OsNHA1 was cloned by RT-PCR approach from rice (Oryza sativa L.), which encodes a putative plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporter. Its deduced protein, OsNHA1, has 11 transmembrane domains and a significant similarity to a plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporter AtNHA1 from Arabidopsis thaliana. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the OsNHA1 clusters with the plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporters from various organisms. The semi-quantitative RT-PCR assay revealed that the expression of OsNHA1 was up-regulated in both shoots and roots of rice seedlings under salt stress, whereas it was not induced in the rice seedlings treated by drought stress.