Differential Expression of Rice Lambda Class GST Gene Family Members During Plant Growth, Development, and in Response to Stress Conditions

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs; EC 2.5.1.18) are members of an isozyme family and catalyze the conjugation of the reduced tripeptide glutathione to a variety of hydrophobic and electrophilic substrates. Though members of different classes of the GST superfamily have been identified and characterized from many plant species including rice, no detailed information is available for the Lambda class gene family in rice. In this study, a genome-wide analysis was carried out to investigate expression patterns of three Lambda class GST members of rice including OsGSTL1, OsGSTL2 and OsGSTL3 in seedlings, at different growth and developmental stages as well as in response to various biotic and abiotic stresses. Expression analysis using microarray datasets and quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction suggests that this gene family express differentially in various tissues, in response to hormones and during different biotic and abiotic stresses including heavy metals, cold, drought and salt stress. Massively Parallel Signature Sequencing (MPSS) analysis also showed differential expression of OsGSTLs during plant growth and development and under different stresses. Out of three members, maximum expression of OsGSTL2 was observed for the MPSS libraries in comparison to other members. We conclude that members of rice Lambda class GST family play an important role in plant growth and development and in combating different biotic and abiotic stresses.