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The Xa21 rice gene conferring resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae is currently utilized in crops to reduce losses. Activation of innate immunity via the Xa21 signal transduction pathway involves several proteins, including Xb10. To identify other factors involved in Xb10 regulation of the Xa21 defense response, Xb10 was used as bait in the yeast two-hybrid system. Three proteins WRKY1, WRKY2, and WRKY3 that together with Xb10 comprise a family (referred to as IIa) of WRKY's containing an N-terminal coiled-coil domain were identified. Heterodimeric group IIa WRKY��s function in disease resistance and present a parallel with innate immunity in animals involving the NF ??B/Rel family of transcriptional activator proteins. Transcription factor complexes may selectively bind to the promoter regions to activate defense genes or function alternately by down regulating other proteins. Two previously uncharacterized domains required for these interactions have also been identified. |
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