Ubiquitination plays a very important role in the response to abiotic stresses of plant. To identify key regulators of salt stress, a gene GhSARP1(Salt-Associated Ring finger Protein)encoding C3H2C3-type E3 ligase, was cloned from cotton. Transcription level of GhSARP1 was high in leaf, flower and fiber of 24,27 and 27DPA (Days Post-Anthesis), but low in root and stem. Except PEG6000 treatment, the expression of GhSARP1 was down-regulated by NaCl, cold and ABA after being treated for 1 h. GhSARP1-GFP fusion protein located on the plasma membrane, which was dependent on trans-membrane motif. In vitro ubiquitination assay showed that GhSARP1 had E3 ligase activity. Heterogeneous overexpression of GhSARP1reduced salt tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis in germination and post-germination stage. Our results suggested that the GhSARP1 might negatively regulate the response to salt stress mediated by the ubiquitination in cotton. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Inc.