Functional Analysis of ERF9, a Transcriptional Repressor, Associated with Plant Defense in Arabidopsis

Abstract

The DEAR1(DREB and EAR motif protein 1), which encodes the protein containing DREB domain and EAR motif, is likely to function as a transcriptional repressor to the DRE-binding protein. The DEAR1 overexpressor showed constitutive cell death on rosette-leaves and accelerated leaf senescence. The overexpressor also stimulated expression of PDF1.2 gene which is controlled ERF (ethylene-responsive element binding factor) genes.
DNA microarray on DEAR1 overexpressor and expression analysis showed that ERF9, which contains the EAR motif and have DRE region in the promoter, is the target of DEAR1. It is hypothesized that the ERF9 usually represses expression of target genes including PDF1.2, and that release the repression by the DEAR1 in pathogen infection.
The ERF9 gene under the DEAR1 control will be discussed.