title: BPF-1, a pathogen-induced DNA-binding protein involved in the plant defense response.
abstract: The mechanisms by which plants restrict the growth of pathogens include transient activation of numerous defense-related genes. Box P is a putative cis-acting element of a distinct group of such genes, including those encoding the enzyme phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL). A DNA-binding activity to Box P was identified in nuclear extracts from cultured parsley cells and a cDNA encoding the protein BPF-1 (Box P-binding Factor) partially characterized. BPF-1 binds to this element with specificity similar to that of the binding activity in nuclear extracts. BPF-1 mRNA accumulates rapidly in elicitor-treated parsley cells and around fungal infection sites on parsley leaves. This accumulation is, at least partly, due to a rapid and transient increase in the transcription rate of BPF-1. Moreover, tight correlation between the relative amounts of BPF-1 and PAL mRNAs was observed in different organs of a parsley plant. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that BPF-1 is involved in disease resistance by modulating plant defense gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Züchtungsforschung, Abteilung Biochemie, Köln, Germany.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: da Costa e Silva
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schmelzer
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Trezzini
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hahlbrock
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010650:Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase / Q000235:genetics; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: C084349:BPF-1 protein, Petroselinum crispum; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D010650:Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase