title: Nitric oxide signaling in plant-pathogen interactions.
abstract: Nitric oxide (NO), first characterized as an endothelium-derived relaxation factor, is involved in diverse cellular processes including neuronal signaling, blood pressure homeostasis, and immune response. Recent studies have also revealed a role for NO as a signaling molecule in plants. As a developmental regulator, NO promotes germination, leaf extension and root growth, and delays leaf senescence and fruit maturation. Moreover, NO acts as a key signal in plant resistance to incompatible pathogens by triggering resistance-associated hypersensitive cell death. In addition, NO activates the expression of several defense genes (e.g. pathogenesis-related genes, phenylalanine ammonialyase, chalcone synthase) and could play a role in pathways leading to systemic acquired resistance.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Scientifico e Tecnologico, Università degli Studi di Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: María C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Romero-Puertas
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delledonne
mesh_terms: D016923:Cell Death; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008954:Models, Biological; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000382:microbiology; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010944:Plants / Q000382:microbiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide