Cloning and expression analysis of slowly activating anion channel gene NtSLAH1 from Nicotiana tabacum

To clarify the function of NtSLAC (Slowly activating anion channel, SLAC) genes in chloride transport, a SLAH (SLAC homologue) gene was cloned from Nicotiana tabacum by homology search, named as NtSLAH1. The open reading frame of NtSLAH1 was 1 107 bp in length and encoded 368 amino acids. The NtSLAH1 protein was located in the cytoplasmic membrane. Comparing to SLAH genes in the other plants, deduced protein sequences of NtSLAH1, AtSLAH1 and AtSLAH4 were highly similar, and NtSLAH1 was closer to AtSLAH1 and AtSLAH4 in evolutionary distance. qRT-PCR results showed that NtSLAH1 was highly expressed in root, and the expression of NtSLAH1, especially in roots, was down-regulated under salt stress. The results indicated that NtSLAH1 might play an important role in response to salt and the absorption of chloride in tobacco.