Plant defense after flooding

Since the first study of hypoxic response in plants with cDNA microarray in 2002, the number of hypoxia-responsive genes has grown to more than 2000. However, to date, only small numbers of hypoxia-responsive genes are known to confer hypoxic resistance. Most investigations in this area have focused on identifying which genes are responsive and then characterized how these genes are induced during hypoxia, but the roles of numerous genes in hypoxic response are still unknown. In our recent study, we demonstrated that a group of genes are induced by submergence to trigger plant immunity, which is a response to protect plants against a higher probability of pathogen infection during or after flooding. This work offered a brand new perspective, i.e., that hypoxia-responsive genes can be induced for reasons other than conferring hypoxic resistance. Possible reasons why these responses were triggered are discussed herein.     

五个WRKY转录因子在水稻叶片生长和抗病反应中的表达研究

WRKY是植物基因组中最大的转录因子家族之一,它们在抗病及其他信号转导途径中发挥着重要的调控作用．为了解水稻WRKY的功能,我们选择了5个WRKY转录因子,用免疫印迹技术调查了它们在水稻叶片生长和在Xa21介导的白叶枯病抗性反应中的表达丰度变化．结果表明,OsWRKY13、23和71在叶片中表达,且随叶片生长而逐步增加,至成熟期略有下降,但在叶片中检测不到OsWRKY45和OsWRKY53的表达信号．在Xa21介导的白叶枯病抗性反应中,OsWRKY45、53和71均受诱导表达,而OsWRKY13和 OsWRKY23蛋白质的表达没有可见的变化．进一步比较OsWRKY45、OsWRKY53和OsWRKY71在抗、感和对照(Mock)反应中的表达,发现它们在抗、感反应中均发生相似变化．上述结果说明,OsWRKY13和OsWRKY23可能在叶片正常生长过程中发挥作用,OsWRKY45和OsWRKY53可能在水稻-白叶枯病菌互作过程中发挥作用,而OsWRKY71在二种条件下均有功能．