Pathogenesis-related genes transcriptional activator binds to the GCC-box pathogenesis-related promoter element and activates the plant's defense genes. Ethylene, chemically the simplest plant hormone, participates in a number of stress responses and developmental processes: e.g., fruit ripening, inhibition of stem and root elongation, promotion of seed germination and flowering, senescence of leaves and flowers, and sex determination (PUBMED:7732375). DNA sequence elements that confer ethylene responsiveness have been shown to contain two 11bp GCC boxes, which are necessary and sufficient for transcriptional control by ethylene. Ethylene responsive element binding proteins (EREBPs) have now been identified in a variety of plants. The proteins share a similar domain of around 59 amino acids, which interacts directly with the GCC box in the ERE.
GO process:
regulation of transcription, DNA-dependent (GO:0006355)
Ethylene-inducible DNA binding proteins that interact with an ethylene-responsive element.
Plant Cell. 1995; 7: 173-82
Display abstract
We demonstrated that the GCC box, which is an 11-bp sequence (TAAGAGCCGCC) conserved in the 5' upstream region of ethylene-inducible pathogenesis-related protein genes in Nicotiana spp and in some other plants, is the sequence that is essential for ethylene responsiveness when incorporated into a heterologous promoter. Competitive gel retardation assays showed DNA binding activities to be specific to the GCC box sequence in tobacco nuclear extracts. Four different cDNAs encoding DNA binding proteins specific for the GCC box sequence were isolated, and their products were designated ethylene-responsive element binding proteins (EREBPs). The deduced amino acid sequences of EREBPs exhibited no homology with those of known DNA binding proteins or transcription factors; neither did the deduced proteins contain a basic leucine zipper or zinc finger motif. The DNA binding domain was identified within a region of 59 amino acid residues that was common to all four deduced EREBPs. Regions highly homologous to the DNA binding domain of EREBPs were found in proteins deduced from the cDNAs of various plants, suggesting that this domain is evolutionarily conserved in plants. RNA gel blot analysis revealed that accumulation of mRNAs for EREBPs was induced by ethylene, but individual EREBPs exhibited different patterns of expression.
Control of Arabidopsis flower and seed development by the homeotic gene APETALA2.
Plant Cell. 1994; 6: 1211-25
Display abstract
APETALA2 (AP2) plays a central role in the establishment of the floral meristem, the specification of floral organ identity, and the regulation of floral homeotic gene expression in Arabidopsis. We show here that in addition to its functions during flower development, AP2 activity is also required during seed development. We isolated the AP2 gene and found that it encodes a putative nuclear protein that is distinguished by an essential 68-amino acid repeated motif, the AP2 domain. Consistent with its genetic functions, we determined that AP2 is expressed at the RNA level in all four types of floral organs--sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels--and in developing ovules. Thus, AP2 gene transcription does not appear to be spatially restricted by the floral homeotic gene AGAMOUS as predicted by previous studies. We also found that AP2 is expressed at the RNA level in the inflorescence meristem and in nonfloral organs, including leaf and stem. Taken together, our results suggest that AP2 represents a new class of plant regulatory proteins that may play a general role in the control of Arabidopsis development.
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