AUTHOR=Zang Zhenyuan , Lv Ying , Liu Shuang , Yang Wei , Ci Jiabin , Ren Xuejiao , Wang Zhen , Wu Hao , Ma Wenyu , Jiang Liangyu , Yang Weiguang 

TITLE=A Novel ERF Transcription Factor, ZmERF105, Positively Regulates Maize Resistance to Exserohilum turcicum

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2020.00850

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2020.00850

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>The ethylene response factor (ERF) plays a crucial role in plant innate immunity. However, the molecular function of ERF in response to <italic>Exserohilum turcicum</italic> (<italic>E</italic>. <italic>turcicum</italic>) remains unknown in maize. In this study, a novel ERF gene, designated as <italic>ZmERF105</italic>, was firstly isolated and characterized. The <italic>ZmERF105</italic> protein contains an APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSIVE FACTOR (AP2/ERF) domain and a conserved LSPLSPHP motif in its C-terminal region. ZmERF105 protein was exclusively localized to the nucleus. <italic>ZmERF105</italic> expression responded to <italic>E</italic>. <italic>turcicum</italic> treatment. Yeast one-hybrid and transcription activity assays revealed that <italic>ZmERF105</italic> is an activator of transcription and binds to GCC-box elements. Over-expression of <italic>ZmERF105</italic> was shown to increase maize resistance against <italic>E</italic>. <italic>turcicum</italic>, and <italic>erf105</italic> mutant lines displayed opposite phenotype. Moreover, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) in the <italic>ZmERF105</italic> over-expression lines were markedly higher than in the wild-type maize lines (WT) after infection with <italic>E</italic>. <italic>turcicum</italic>, and were compromised in the <italic>erf105</italic> mutant lines. Simultaneously, <italic>ZmERF105</italic> over-expression lines enhanced the expression of several pathogenesis-related (PR) genes, including <italic>ZmPR1a</italic>, <italic>ZmPR2</italic>, <italic>ZmPR5</italic>, <italic>ZmPR10.1</italic>, and <italic>ZmPR10.2</italic> after infection with <italic>E</italic>. <italic>turcicum</italic>. In contrast, the expression of PR genes was reduced in <italic>erf105</italic> mutant lines. Our work reveals that <italic>ZmERF105</italic> as a novel player of the ERF network and positively regulates the maize resistance response to <italic>E</italic>. <italic>turcicum</italic>.</p>