Differential expression of four soybean bZIP genes during Phakopsora pachyrhizi infection

Abstract

Asian soybean rust (ASR), caused by the obligate biotrophic fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi, is one of most important diseases in the soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) agribusiness. The identification and characterization of genes related to plant defense responses to fungal infection are essential to develop ASR-resistant plants. In this work, we describe four soybean genes, GmbZIP62, GmbZIP105, GmbZIPE1, and GmbZIPE2, which encode transcription factors containing a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) domain from two divergent classes, and that are responsive to P. pachyrhizi infection. Molecular phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that these genes encode proteins similar to bZIP factors responsive to pathogens. Yeast transactivation assays showed that only GmbZIP62 has strong transactivation activity in yeast. In addition, three of the bZIP transcription factors analyzed were also differentially expressed by plant defense hormones, and all were differentially expressed by fungal attack, indicating that these proteins might participate in response to ASR infection. The results suggested that these bZIP proteins are part of the plant defense response to P. pachyrhizi infection, by regulating the gene expression related to ASR infection responses. These bZIP genes are potential targets to obtain new soybean genotypes resistant to ASR.

Two Cassava Basic Leucine Zipper (bZIP) Transcription Factors (MebZIP3 and MebZIP5) Confer Disease Resistance against Cassava Bacterial Blight

“…Through VIGS, MebZIP3- and MebZIP5 -silenced plants resulted in disease sensitive, lower transcripts of defense-related genes and less callose depositions. These results are consistent with previous studies that plant bZIP transcription factors are widely involved in plant–pathogen interaction ( Kim and Delaney, 2002 ; Shearer et al, 2012 ; Alves et al, 2013 , 2015 ; Lim et al, 2015 ). Thus, we highlight the positive role of MebZIP3 and MebZIP5 in disease resistance against cassava bacterial blight for further utilization in genetic improvement of cassava resistance to disease.…”

“…Through genome-wide analysis, bZIP gene family has been identified in numerous plant species, including Arabidopsis ( Jakoby et al, 2002 ), pepper ( Capsicum annum ) ( Hwang et al, 2005 ), rice ( Oryza sativa L.) ( Nijhawan et al, 2008 ), maize ( Zea mays L.) ( Wei et al, 2012 ), Populus ( Ji et al, 2013 ), Phaseolus vulgaris ( Astudillo et al, 2013 ), castor bean ( Ricinus communis L.) ( Jin et al, 2014 ), grapevine ( Vitis vinifera ) ( Liu et al, 2014 ), cucumber ( Cucumis sativus ) ( Baloglu et al, 2014 ), Brassica rapa ( Hwang et al, 2014 ), barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) ( Pourabed et al, 2015 ), Brachypodium distachyon ( Liu and Chu, 2015 ), tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) ( Li et al, 2015 ), legume ( Lablab purpureus L.) ( Wang et al, 2015 ), cassava ( Manihot esculenta ) ( Hu et al, 2016 ), apple ( Malus sieversii L.) ( Zhao et al, 2016 ), and cabbage ( Brassica oleracea ) ( Bai et al, 2016 ). Functional analysis found that plant bZIPs are widely involved in metabolism ( Hartmann et al, 2015 ; Zhang et al, 2015 ; Sagor et al, 2016 ), abiotic stress (salt, drought) ( Inaba et al, 2015 ; Moon et al, 2015 ; Sornaraj et al, 2016 ; Xu et al, 2016 ; Zong et al, 2016 ; Banerjee and Roychoudhury, 2017 ) and plant–pathogen interaction ( Kim and Delaney, 2002 ; Shearer et al, 2012 ; Alves et al, 2013 , 2015 ; Lim et al, 2015 ).…”

Transcriptome Profiling of the Phaseolus vulgaris - Colletotrichum lindemuthianum Pathosystem

“…We also observed two bZIP TFs up regulated in resistant NIL at 72 and 96 hpi. The bZIPs are the most studied TFs in plants [79] and their role in regulating various metabolic functions such as storage, leaf development, flower development and synthesis of hormones have been investigated [80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85]. In addition to other functions, bZIP TFs have recently been reported to enhance disease resistance by activating salicylic acid (SA) dependent pathway.…”

Transcription Factors Associated with Abiotic and Biotic Stress Tolerance and Their Potential for Crops Improvement

“…The review by Noman et al [121] described plant bZIP TF responses to different pathogens and summarized the known functions of bZIP TFs as positive or negative regulators of resistance to pathogen infection. A research article by Alves et al [122] described four bZIP genes in soybean ( GmbZIPE1 , GmbZIPE2 , GmbZIP105 , and GmbZIP62 ), and the findings indicated that bZIP proteins contribute to the defense response against Asian soybean rust disease (ASR) through the expression regulation of ASR-related genes. Expression analysis in cassava revealed that MebZIP3 and MebZIP5 were induced by salicylic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and Xanthomonas axonopodis Pv.…”