애기장대 AtERF11 유전자에 의한 Pseudomonas syringae에 대한 병 저항성 유도 = AtERF11 is a positive regulator for disease resistance against a bacterial pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae, in Arabidopsis thaliana

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

AvrRpt2 protein triggers hypersensitive response (HR) and strong disease resistance when it is translocated from a bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas sp. to host plant cells containing a cognate RPS2 resistance protein through Type III Secretion System (TTSS). However, AvrRpt2 protein can function as the effector that suppresses a basal defense and enhances the disease symptom when functional RPS2 resistance protein is absent in the infected plant cells. Using Affymetrix Arabidopsis DNA chip, we found that many genes were specifically regulated by AvrRpt2 protein in the rps2 Arabidopsis mutant. Here, we showed that expression of AtERF11 that is known as a member of B1a subcluster of AP2/ERF transcription factor family was down regulated specifically by AvrRpt2. To determine its function in plant resistance, we also generated the Arabidopsis thaliana transgenic plants constitutively overexpressing AtERF11 under CaMV 355 promoter, which conferred an enhanced resistance against a bacterial pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000. Thus, these results collectively suggest that AtERF11 plays a role as a positive regulator for disease resistance against biotrophic bacterial pathogen in plant.

국문 초록 (Abstract)

본 연구는 Affymetrix Arabidopsis DNA chip을 이용하여 비 병원성 인자인 AvrRpt2 단백질에 의해서 특이적으로 전사 과정이 조절되는 애기장대 유전자들을 분리하고 병 저항성 방어체계와 관련한 이들 유전자들의 기능 분석을 시도하였다. 그 중에서 먼저 식물 호르몬인 ethylene의 신호 조절에 관여하는 ERFs (ethylene-responsive element binding factors) 전사조절 유전자 family 중에서 Bla subfamily 그룹으로 알려져 있는 AtERF11 유전자의 병 저항성 관련 기능을 규명하였다. 저항성 유전자 RPS2가 없는 경우에는 비 병원성 인자인 AvrRpt2 단백질은 기주 식물체내의 기초 병저항성을 감소시키고 병원성 세균의 증식을 향상시켜서 병증을 증대시키는 effector로 작용한다는 기존의 연구결과와 유사하게, 저항성 유전자 RPS2가 없는 조건에서 AtERF11 유전자의 발현이 AvrRpt2 단백질의 작용에 의해서 특이적으로 감소되는 것을 확인하였다. 이러한 결과를 바탕으로 AtERF11 유전자는 식물체의 병 저항성 방어기작에 있어서 positive regulator로서 작용하기 때문에 effector로 작용하는 AvrRpt2 단백질에 의해서 조절되는 것으로 추측하였다. 본 가설을 증명하기 위해 AtERF11의 발현을 증폭시킨 애기장대 형질전화체를 제작하고 P. syringae pv. tomato DC 3000에 대한 병저항성을 실험하였다. AtERF11 유전자가 대량 발현하는 형질전화 된 애기장대에서는 야생종에 비해 대략 100배 이상 세균의 증식이 억제되는 강력한 병저항성을 가진다는 것을 검증하였다.

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