Ectopic Expression of a Cell-Wall-Degrading Enzyme-Induced <i>OsAP2/ERF152</i> Leads to Resistance against Bacterial and Fungal Infection in <i>Arabidopsis</i>
Shakuntala E. Pillai, Chandan Kumar, Madhumita Dasgupta, Kinathi Bipin Kumar, Sridivya Vungarala, Hitendra Kumar Patel, Ramesh V. Sonti
Abstract
Pathogen secreted cell-wall-degrading enzymes (CWDEs) induce plant innate immune responses. The expression of rice transcription factor APETALA2/ethylene response factor-152 (OsAP2/ERF152) is enhanced in leaves upon treatment with different CWDEs and upon wounding. Ectopic expression of OsAP2/ERF152 in Arabidopsis leads to induction of immune responses such as callose deposition and upregulation of both salicylic acid- and jasmonic acid/ethylene-responsive defense genes. Arabidopsis transgenics expressing OsAP2/ERF152 exhibited resistance to infections caused by both bacterial and fungal pathogens (Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 and Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IA, respectively). Ectopic expression of OsAP2/ERF152 results in transient activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases 3/6 (MPK3/6), which could be leading to the induction of a broad range immunity in Arabidopsis.