Ethylene-responsive factor 8 (ERF8), a member of AP2/ERF superfamily, is one of the transcription factors involved in repression of leaf senescence in plants. Leaf senescence is the final stage of leaf development and involves the mobilization of nutrients from old leaves to newly growing tissue. Regulation of leaf senescence depends on the developmental age of plants, and it is also influenced by various external stimuli.

Studies have shown that combination of ERF8 and ERF4 is key in signaling pathways related to the progression of leaf senescence. However, there were no investigations conducted specifically about ERF8. Therefore, investigating function and interaction of ERF8 is considered an effective strategy to control plant resistance against stress factors.

In a study conducted by Nguyen Thanh Huyen and colleagues, ERF8 was amplified from cDNA of Arabidopsis thaliana by Polymerase Chain Reaction, then cloned into pTZ257R/T vector. This gene then was subcloned into the expression vector pGEX-5X and expressed in Escherichia coli strain BL21. The researchers analyzed the factors and determined the optimal conditions for the expression of ERF8 protein in E. coli train BL21 (at 30^oC after 3 hours induction with 0.5 mM IPTG). Finally, ERF8 recombinant protein was purified by affinity chromatography for further studies.

For more information on this study, read the original article in Vietnamese.