title: Glycan-binding F-box protein from Arabidopsis thaliana protects plants from Pseudomonas syringae infection.
abstract: A small group of F-box proteins consisting of a conserved F-box domain linked to a domain homologous to the glycan-binding protein has been identified within the genome of Arabidopsis thaliana. Previously, the so-called F-box-Nictaba protein, encoded by the gene At2g02360, was shown to be a functional lectin which binds N-acetyllactosamine structures. Here, we present a detailed qRT-PCR expression analysis of F-box-Nictaba in Arabidopsis plants upon different stresses and hormone treatments.
  
  
  
  Expression of the F-box-Nictaba gene was enhanced after plant treatment with salicylic acid and after plant infection with the virulent Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato strain DC3000 (Pst DC3000). β-glucuronidase histochemical staining of transgenic Arabidopsis plants displayed preferential activity of the At2g02360 promoter in trichomes present on young rosette leaves. qRT-PCR analyses confirmed high expression of F-box-Nictaba in leaf trichomes. A. thaliana plants overexpressing the gene showed less disease symptoms after Pst DC3000 infection with reduced bacterial colonization compared to infected wild type and F-box-Nictaba knock-out plants.
  
  
  
  Our data show that the Arabidopsis F-box-Nictaba gene is a stress-inducible gene responsive to SA, bacterial infection and heat stress, and is involved in salicylic acid related plant defense responses. This knowledge enriched our understanding of the physiological importance of F-box-Nictaba, and can be used to create plants with better performance in changing environmental conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stefanowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nausicaä
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lannoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Yafei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lore
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eggermont
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Hove
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bassam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Al Atalah
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium. elsjm.vandamme@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Els J M
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Van Damme
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D044783:F-Box Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D044224:Pseudomonas syringae / Q000502:physiology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020156:Salicylic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D064201:Trichomes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D044783:F-Box Proteins; D020156:Salicylic Acid
keywords: F-box-Nictaba; Glycan; Lectin; Pseudomonas; Salicylic acid; Stress