Analyses of Nine cDNAs for Salt-Inducible Gene in the Halophyte Sea Aster (Aster tripolium L.)

In order to understand responses of the halophyte sea aster (Aster tripolium L.) to salt stress at the molecular level, we used a differential screening strategy. Nine cDNAs of genes induced by salt stress were cloned by this method from sea aster. The clones were collectively named SASR (sea aster stress responsive). These cDNAs were mainly associated with osmoprotectant synthesis, protein metabolism, protein degradation or signal transduction. All the mRNAs corresponding to the SASR genes were accumulated under high salt conditions and the transcripts of 3 out of 9 genes were induced by osmotic stress.