Abstract
WIPK (wound-induced protein kinase) and WIZZ (wound-induced leucine zipper zinc finger) encode a MAP kinase and a WRKY transcription factor, respectively. Their transcripts are induced within several minutes after wounding, and encoded proteins are thought to modulate gene expression involved in wound-healing and/or defense. To determine the regulation mechanism of WIPK and WIZZ expression, we isolated corresponding promoter region of each gene from tobacco, and fused to reporter genes. Histochemical analysis of resulting transgenic lines showed that WIPK and WIZZ were localized near the sites of wounding, and along the vascular systems, respectively. Deletion analysis showed that a 430bp of WIPK, and a 290bp of WIZZ promoter regions were sufficient for wound response. In addition to wounding, WIPK transcripts were induced during hypersensitive response (HR) after TMV infection. Promoter analysis indicated that a 430bp promoter region was sufficient for HR, and that WIPK protein was predominantly accumulated around HR lesions.
