Maize Ethylene Response Factor ZmERF061 Is Required for Resistance to Exserohilum turcicum

Plants have evolved a series of sophisticated defense mechanisms to help them from harm. Ethylene Response Factor (ERF) plays pivotal roles in plant immune reactions, however, its underlying mechanism in maize with a defensive function to Exserohilum turcicum (E. turcicum) remains poorly understood. Here, we isolated and characterized a novel ERF transcription factor, designated ZmERF061, from maize. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that ZmERF061 is a member of B3 group in the ERF family. qRT-PCR assays showed that the expression of ZmERF061 is significantly induced by E. turcicum inoculation and hormone treatments with salicylic acid (SA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA). ZmERF061 was proved to function as a nucleus-localized transcription activator and specifically bind to the GCC-box element. zmerf061 mutant lines resulted in enhanced susceptibility to E. turcicum via decreasing the expression of ZmPR10.1 and ZmPR10.2 and the activity of antioxidant defense system. zmerf061 mutant lines increased the expression of the SA signaling-related gene ZmPR1a and decreased the expression of the jasmonic acid (JA) signaling-related gene ZmLox1 after infection with E. turcicum. In addition, ZmERF061 could interact with ZmMPK6-1. These results suggested that ZmERF061 plays an important role in response to E. turcicum and may be useful in genetic engineering breeding.

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Role of ethylene and the APETALA 2/ethylene response factor superfamily in rice under various abiotic and biotic stress conditions

Environmental and Experimental Botany ◽

10.1016/j.envexpbot.2016.10.015 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 134 ◽

pp. 33-44 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Rambod Abiri ◽

Noor Azmi Shaharuddin ◽

Mahmood Maziah ◽

Zetty Norhana Balia Yusof ◽

Narges Atabaki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biotic Stress ◽

Stress Conditions ◽

Ethylene Response Factor ◽

Response Factor ◽

Abiotic And Biotic Stress ◽

Ethylene Response ◽

Apetala 2

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Constitutive expression of a stabilized transcription factor group VII ethylene response factor enhances waterlogging tolerance in wheat without penalizing grain yield

Plant Cell & Environment ◽

10.1111/pce.13505 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 42 (5) ◽

pp. 1471-1485 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Xuening Wei ◽

Huijun Xu ◽

Wei Rong ◽

Xingguo Ye ◽

Zengyan Zhang

Keyword(s):

Transcription Factor ◽

Grain Yield ◽

Constitutive Expression ◽

Factor Group ◽

Ethylene Response Factor ◽

Response Factor ◽

Waterlogging Tolerance ◽

Ethylene Response

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An AC-Rich Bean Element Serves as an Ethylene-Responsive Element in Arabidopsis

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants9081033 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 1033

Author(s):

Chunying Wang ◽

Tingting Lin ◽

Mengqi Wang ◽

Xiaoting Qi

Keyword(s):

Nuclear Proteins ◽

Ethylene Response Factor ◽

Response Factor ◽

Cis Acting ◽

Gcc Box ◽

Ethylene Response ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Responsive Element ◽

Transcription Factor 1

Ethylene-responsive elements (EREs), such as the GCC box, are critical for ethylene-regulated transcription in plants. Our previous work identified a 19-bp AC-rich element (ACE) in the promoter of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) metal response element-binding transcription factor 1 (PvMTF-1). Ethylene response factor 15 (PvERF15) directly binds ACE to enhance PvMTF-1 expression. As a novel ERF-binding element, ACE exhibits a significant difference from the GCC box. Here, we demonstrated that ACE serves as an ERE in Arabidopsis. It conferred the minimal promoter to respond to the ethylene stress and inhibition of ethylene. Moreover, the cis-acting element ACE could specifically bind the nuclear proteins in vitro. We further revealed that the first 9-bp sequence of ACE (ACEcore) is importantly required by the binding of nuclear proteins. In addition, PvERF15 and PvMTF-1 were strongly induced by ethylene in bean seedlings. Since PvERF15 activates PvMTF-1 via ACE, ACE is involved in ethylene-induced PvMTF-1 expression. Taken together, our findings provide genetic and biochemical evidence for a new ERE.

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