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Bean nuclear extracts were used in gel retardation assays and DNase I footprinting experiments to identify a protein factor, designated SBF-1, that specifically interacts with regulatory sequences in the promoter of the bean defense gene CHS15, which encodes the flavonoid biosynthetic enzyme chalcone synthase. SBF-1 binds to three short sequences designated boxes 1, 2 and 3 in the region -326 to - 173. This cis-element, which is involved in organ-specific expression in plant development, functions as a transcriptional silencer in electroporated protoplasts derived from undifferentiated suspension-cultured soybean cells. The silencer element activates in trans a co-electroporated CHS15-chloramphenicol acetyl-transferase gene fusion, indicating that the factor acts as a repressor in these cells. SBF-1 binding in vitro is rapid, reversible and sensitive to prior heat or protease treatment. Competitive binding assays show that boxes 1, 2 and 3 interact cooperatively, but that each box can bind the factor independently, with box 3 showing the strongest binding and box 2 the weakest binding. GGTTAA(A/T)(A/T)(A/T), which forms a consensus sequence common to all three boxes, resembles the binding site for the GT-1 factor in light-responsive elements of the pea rbcS-3A gene, which encodes the small subunit of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase. Binding to the CHS15 -326 to -173 element, and to boxes 1, 2 or 3 individually, is competed by the GT-1 binding sequence of rbcS-3A, but not by a functionally inactive form, and likewise the CHS sequences can compete with authentic GT-1 sites from the rbcS-3A promoter for binding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

To characterize the acidic endochitinase EP3, able to rescue somatic embryos of the carrot cell line ts11, the enzyme was purified from the medium of wild-type suspension cultures. Peptide sequences, deduced amino acid sequences of corresponding PCR-generated cDNA clones, serological relation and biochemical properties showed that there were at least five closely related chitinases, four of which could be identified as class IV EP3 chitinases with an apparent size of 30 kDa. Two other proteins were identified as a serologically related class I acidic chitinase (DcChitI) of 34 kDa, and a serologically unrelated 29 kDa class II acidic chitinase (DcChitII), respectively. Additional cDNA sequences, Western and Southern analysis showed the presence of a least two, but possibly more, highly homologous class IV EP3 genes in the carrot genome. Two class IV EP3 chitinases were tested and found to be able to increase the number of ts11 globular embryos formed under non-permissive conditions. One of the class IV EP3 chitinases as well as the class I chitinase DcChitI promoted the transition from globular to heart-stage ts11 embryos. The class II endochitinase and a heterologous class IV chitinase from sugar-beet were not active on ts11. This suggests that there are differences in the specificity of chitinases in terms of their effect on plant somatic embryos.

Antifungal activity in vitro has been associakd vAh barlcy kill and grain prolcins which arc homologous with pathogcnesis related proteins of type 4 (PR-4) from tobacco and tomato and with C terminal domains 01' potato trirr und HLWU hcvein precursor proteins. One protein (pl -9.3, M, -13.7 kDa) from barley grain and two very similar proteins from lcavcs in&ted with GJ@/IC grmrinis were isolated by chitin amnity chromatography, but none of the proteins sbowcd chiGnasc activity in vitro, The leaf protcins wcrc increased several fold in response to either ,!Zr~si~lrr infection or NiCll infiltration 2nd ucawulatud extruccllularly. Tbc three barlcy proteins were found to inhibit growth of Trichkwtto /t~tr~:iut~to~t in microtitcr plate essays using -lO~#nl conccntrutions and in lowcr concentrations in a synergistic way when mixed either with barley chitinasc C (a PR-3 type protein) or with barley protein R (a PR-5 type protein). Slruclurally similar proteins were dctccted in wheat, rye and oats grain extracls.

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