AP2/EREBP transcription factors in rice

Abstract

Plants have the ability to defend themselves against pathogens by activating a series of defense responses. SA is known to be a signal molecule in plant defense responses. Nevertheles, SA is not the only one signal mediating defense responses. In addition to SA, ethylene and jasmonic acid have also been known to mediate plant defense responses against pathogens. The activation of a series of plant defense responses is known to be through varieties of transcription factors. Specially AP2/EREBP transcription factors are involved in ethylene mediated defense signaling. In this review, recent progress on AP2/EREBP transcription factors in arabidopsis, tomato and tobacco and a few of AP2/ EREBP transcription factors in rice related to biotic stresses will be discussed.