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A tomato homeobox gene (HD‐Zip) is involved in limiting the spread of programmed cell death
Author(s) -
Mayda Esther,
Tornero Pablo,
Conejero Vicente,
Vera Pablo
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
the plant journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.058
H-Index - 269
eISSN - 1365-313X
pISSN - 0960-7412
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-313x.1999.00633.x
Subject(s) - biology , programmed cell death , transgene , limiting , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , homeobox , transcription factor , genetics , apoptosis , mechanical engineering , engineering
Summary Antisense suppression in transgenic tomato plants of H52 , a gene encoding a new homeodomain protein of the HD‐Zip class, produces a conditional lethal phenotype. The transgenic lines that survive exhibit spontaneous misregulation of cell death control in leaves, which, once initiated, propagates and engulfs the entire leaf. Activation of defence genes, over‐accumulation of ethylene and conjugated salicylic acid, and growth reduction of virulent pathogens also occurs in these plants. In wild‐type plants, H52 is up‐regulated upon infection, mirroring the generation of the oxidative burst which normally precedes the hypersensitive response (HR). Thus, H52 appears to be a transcription factor involved in cellular protection by limiting spread of programmed cell death in plants.