• Molecules and Cells
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.232-239
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• 2007

$HrpN_{EP}$, from the gram-negative pathogen, Erwinia pyrifoliae, is a member of the harpin group of proteins, inducing pathogen resistance and hypersensitive cell death in plants. When the $hrpN_{EP}$ gene driven by the OsCc1 promoter was introduced into tobacco plants via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, their resistance to the necrotrophic fungal pathogen, Botrytis cinerea, increased. Resistance to B. cinerea was correlated with enhanced induction of SA-dependent genes such as PR-1a, PR2, PR3 and Chia5, of JA-dependent genes such as PR-1b, and of genes related to ethylene production, such as NT-EFE26, NT-1A1C, DS321, NT-ACS1 and NT-ACS2. However the expression of NPR1, which is thought to be essential for multiple-resistance, did not increase. Since the pattern of expression of defense-related genes in $hrpN_{EP}$-expressing tobacco differed from that in plants expressing $hpaG_{Xoo}$ from Xanthomonas oryzae pv. Oryzae, these results suggest that different harpins can affect the expression of different defense-related genes, as well as resistance to different plant pathogens.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.64.1-64
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• 2003

Inoculation of primary pepper leaves with an avirulent strain of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria induced systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in secondary leaves. This SAR response was accompanied by the systemic expression of defense-related genes, a systemic microoxidative burst generating H2O2, and the systemic induction of ion-leakage and callose deposition in the non-inoculated, secondary leaves. Some defense-related genes encoding PR-1, chitinase, peroxidase, PR10, thionin, defensin and zinc-finger protein were distiilctly induced in the systemic leaves. The systemically striking accumulation of H$_2$O$_2$and strong increase in peroxidase activity in pepper was suggested to contribute to the triggering of cell death In the systemic micro-HRs, leading to the induction of SAR. Treatment of non-inoculated, secondary leaves with diphenylene iodinium (DPI), an inhibitor of the oxidative burst, substantially reduced the induction of some defense-related genes and subsequently SAR.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.420-431
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• 2005

The differentially virulent race T1 of common bunt (Tilletia tritici) was used to inoculate the wheat lines Neepawa (compatible) and its sib BW553 (incompatible) that are nearly isogenic for the Bt-10 resistance gene. Inoculated crown tissues were used to construct a suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) cDNA library. Of the 1920 clones arrayed from the SSH cDNA library, approximately 10% were differentially regulated. A total of 168 differentially up-regulated and 25 down-regulated genes were identified and sequenced; 71% sequences had significant homology to genes of known function, of which 59% appeared to have roles in cellular metabolism and development, 24% in abiotic/biotic stress responses, 3% involved in transcription and signal transduction responses. Two putative resistance genes and a transcription factor were identified among the up regulated sequences. The expression of several candidate genes including a lipase, two non-specific lipid transfer proteins (ns-LTPs), and several wheat pathogenesis-related (PR)-proteins, was evaluated following 4 to 32 days post-inoculation in compatible and incompatible interactions. Results confirmed the higher overall expression of these genes in resistant BW553 compared to susceptible Neepawa, and the differential up-regulation of wheat lipase, chitinase and PR-1 proteins in the expression of the incompatible interaction.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.255-261
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• 2001

Vitis vinifera thaumatin-like protein (VVTL1) is a fruit-specific and ripening-related protein in grape. In order to isolate VVTL1-homolog gene and fruit-specific promoter from Campbell cultivar, we isolated a genomic clone containing VVTL1-homolog gene from grape genomic library through plaque hybridization. VVTL1-homolog gene has an intronless genomic structure, which the pattern is matched with those of other PR5 genes such as osmotin and osmotin-like protein genes. Transcription start site was determined by primer extension analysis. The promoter region of VVTL1-homolog gene contains a sequence or structure, especially the location and number of TCA box and ABRE (abscisic acid-responsive element), distinct from other reported plant PR5 genes, though with several known functional elements such as a TATA box and CAAT box. These results suggested that VVTL1-homolog gene may be regulated by a plant hormone, abscisic acid, and one or several stresses such osmotic pressure and pathogen infection. The isolation of fruit-specific promoter may be helpful to breed a genetically modified grape with valuable phenotype or materials in fruits.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.295-301
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• 1999

Many of plant defense responses are consequence of transcriptional activation of related genes. We have developed a modified differential screening procedure to isolate tobacco genes that are involved in the defense responses against TMV infection. A cDNA library was constructed from Nicotiana glutinosa leaves infected by TMV under temperature shift conditions. Each of plasmid DNA in the library was hybridized on a set of slot blots to a pool of cDNA probes prepared from either TMV-infected or mock-treated tobacco leaves. Among 900 plasmid DNAs, 81 clones exhibiting significantly enhanced or reduced level of hybridization to either probe were selected for nucleotide sequencing. The clones were listed into 61 genes considering redundancy between the sequences. The genes were identified to be defense-related genes including PR-genes and genes involved in primary or secondary metabolisms. This results supports the implication that plant defense process entails a major shift in total cellular metabolisms rather than activation of a limited number of defense-related genes. Expression patterns of a number of defense-related genes. Expression patterns of a number of selected genes were examined in northern blot analyses. It is notable that the clone 630 of unknown function exhibits expression pattern similar to those of previously known PR-genes. Experiments to elucidate the roles in defense mechanism of a couple of genes newly identified in this study are in progress.

• Mycobiology
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.457-466
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• 2022

Epicoccum nigrum is a saprophytic or endophytic fungus that is found worldwide. Because of the antagonist effects of E. nigrum on many plant pathogens, current studies on E. nigrum have focused on the development of biological control agents and the utilization of its various metabolites. In this study, E. nigrum was collected from a wheat field, and its genetic diversity was analyzed. Phylogenetic analyses identified 63 isolates of E. nigrum divided into seven groups, indicating a wide genetic diversity. Isolates antagonized the wheat pathogen Fusarium graminearum, and reduced disease symptoms caused by F. graminearum in wheat coleoptiles. Moreover, pretreatment of wheat coleoptiles with E. nigrum induced the upregulation of pathogen-related (PR) genes, PR1, PR2, PR3, PR5, PR9, and PR10 in wheat coleoptiles responding to F. graminearum invasion. Overall, this study indicates that E. nigrum isolates can be used as biological pathogen inhibitors applied in wheat fields.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.208-214
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• 2014

Wild rice, Oryza grandiglumis shows hyper-resistance response to pathogen infection. In order to identify genes necessary for defense response in plants, we have carried out a subtractive hybridization coupled with a cDNA macroarray. An acidic PATHOGENESIS-RELATED1 (PR1) gene of the wild rice is highly identical to the acidic PR1 genes of different plant species. The OgPR1a cDNA has an apparent single open reading frame with a predicted molecular mass 40,621 Da and an isoelectic point of 5.14. Both in silico analysis and a transient expression assay in onion epidermal cells revealed that the OgPR1a protein could be localized in intercellular space in plants. The OgPR1a mRNA was strongly transcribed by the exogenous treatment with ethylene and jasmonic acid as well as protein phosphatase inhibitors. Additionally, ectopic expression of the OgPR1a conferred disease resistance on Arabidopsis to the bacterial and fungal infections.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 2005

Beauveria bassiana F-101, which has high toxicity toward Acantholyda parki as well as Thecodiplosis japonensis, was an isolate to develop an alternative control system against the major forest pests. Up to now, in B. bassiana, only one pr1 gene has been isolated and characterized. Therefore, we here reported the identification of a pr1-like gene, which would be a factor of toxicity from B. bassiana F-101. The oligonucleotides for the amplification of the pr1-like gene, were chosen based on the conserved regions of the subtilisin family enzymes, pr1 genes of B. bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, and proteinase K of Tritirachium album. The cloned PCR fragment had 1111 bp including 52 bp intron. The deduced Pr1-like peptide showed a low identity with Pr1s of entomopathogenic fungi such as B. bassiana Pr1 (BbPr1) and M. anisopliae Pr1 (MaPr1) as well as the proteinase K of T. album (TaPrK). Instead, the deduced peptide had a substantially high amino acid sequence identity $(>65\%)$ with the serine proteases of Magnaporthe grisea (MgSPM1) and Podospora anserina (PaPspA). These results, therefore, appear to suggest that the putative Pr1-like peptide of B. bassiana F-101 belongs to the subtilisin-like serine protease family and may be a novel gene.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.395-401
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• 2005

The dlm (disease lesion mimic) mutant of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) shows the similar lesion of a soybean disease caused by a fungus, Corynespora cassilcola. The lesion was examined at cellular and molecular level. Trypan blue staining result indicated that cell death was detectable in the entire region of leaves excluding veins when the lesions had already been developed. We found that the mesophyll cells of palisade layer in the dim mutant appeared to be wider apart from each other. The chloroplasts of the dim mutant cells contained bigger starch granules than those in normal plants. We also found that the lesion development of dlm plant was light-dependent and the starch degradation during the dark period of diurnal cycle was impaired in the mutant. Three soybean pathogenesis-related genes, PR-1a, PR-4, and PR-10, were examined for their expression patterns during the development of disease lesion mimic. The expression of all three genes was up-regulated to some extent upon the appearance of the disease lesion mimic. Although the exact function of DLM protein remains elusive, our data would provide some insight into mechanism underling the cell death associated with the dim mutation.

• Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Korea Conference
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• 1998.07a
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• pp.83-96
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• 1998

The plant pigment proteins phytochromes are a molecular light sensor or switch for photomorphogenesis involving a variety of growth and developmental responses of plants to red and far-red wavelength light. Underscoring the photomorphogenesis mediated by phytochromes is the light signal transduction at molecular and cellular levels. For example, a number of genes activated by the phytochrome-mediated signal transduction cascade have been identified and characterized, especially in Arabidopsis thaliana. The light sensor/switch function of phytochromes are based on photochromism of the covalently linked tetrapyrrole chromophore between the two photoreversible forms, Pr and Pfr. The photochromism of phytochromes involves photoisomerization of the tetrapyrrole chromophore. The "photosensor" Pr-form ("switch off" conformation) of phytochromes strongly absorbs 660 nm red light, whereas the "switch on" Pfr-conformation preferentially absorbs 730 nm far-red light. The latter is generally considered to be responsible for eliciting transduction cascades of the red light signal for various responses of plants to red light including positive or negative expression of light-responsive genes in plant nuclei and chloroplasts. In this paper, we discuss the structure-function of phytochromes in plant growth and development, with a few examples of biotechnological implications.