Isolation and Characterization of an ERF Transcription Factor Gene from Cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.)

A pathogen-inducible ethylene-responsive factor gene, EREB1, was isolated and characterized in cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.). The deduced amino acid sequence of EREB1 had some typical features of transcription factors including nuclear localization signals, an acidic activation domain, and a conserved DNA binding domain. As a single copy gene in the cotton genome, the level of expression of EREB1 in roots and leaves was significantly elevated following treatment with Verticillium wilt toxin. Presence of a GCC box-binding ability motif indicated that the EREB1 protein was capable of binding to GCC box elements in vitro as a transcriptional activator. In tobacco, overexpression of EREB1 activated pathogenesis-related genes under normal growth conditions. These results suggested that EREB1 might play an important role in biotic stress signal transduction pathways and that the overexpression of EREB1 might serve as a viable approach to enhance disease resistance t in cotton.