title: GmEREBP1 is a transcription factor activating defense genes in soybean and Arabidopsis.
abstract: Ethylene-responsive element-binding proteins (EREBPs) are plant-specific transcription factors, many of which have been linked to plant defense responses. Conserved EREBP domains bind to the GCC box, a promoter element found in pathogenesis-related (PR) genes. We previously identified an EREBP gene from soybean (GmEREBP1) whose transcript abundance decreased in soybean cyst-nematode-infected roots of a susceptible cultivar, whereas it increased in abundance in infected roots of a resistant cultivar. Here, we report further characterization of this gene. Transient expression analyses showed that GmEREBP1 is localized to the plant nucleus and functions as a transcriptional activator in soybean leaves. Transgenic soybean plants expressing GmEREBP1 activated the expression of the ethylene (ET)-responsive gene PR2 and the ET- and jasmonic acid (JA)-responsive gene PR3, and the salicylic acid (SA)-responsive gene PR1 but not the SA-responsive PR5. Similarly, transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing GmEREBP1 showed elevated mRNA abundance of the ET-regulated gene PR3 and the ET- and JA-regulated defense-related gene PDF1.2 but not the ET-regulated GST2, and the SA-regulated gene PR1 but not the SA-regulated PR2 and PR5. Transgenic soybean and Arabidopsis plants inoculated with cyst nematodes did not display a significantly altered susceptibility to nematode infection. These results collectively show that GmEREBP1 functions as a transacting inducer of defense gene expression in both soybean and Arabidopsis and mediates the expression of both ET- and JA- and SA-regulated defense-related genes in these plant species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, Iowa State University, Ames 50011, USA.
authors.forename: Mitra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazarei
authors.forename: Axel A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Elling
authors.forename: Tom R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Puthoff
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Baum
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000494:pharmacology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D009348:Nematoda / Q000254:growth & development; D054883:Oxylipins; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000469:parasitology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020156:Salicylic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D013025:Glycine max / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D003517:Cyclopentanes; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005030:Ethylenes; D054883:Oxylipins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C093680:ethylene-responsive element binding protein; C011006:jasmonic acid; C036216:ethylene; D020156:Salicylic Acid