Screening proteins interacting with VpPR10.1 of Chinese wild grapevine using the yeast two-hybrid system

Among the 17 plant pathogenesis-related (PR) protein families, only PR10 family is intracellular and cytosolic. PR proteins are expressed in response to pathogen challenge and abiotic stresses in higher plants. However, the molecular mechanisms of their actions remain poorly understood. In a previous work, we isolated a PR10 gene from Erysiphe necator-resistant Chinese wild Vitis sp. (Baihe-35-1) and it was designated as VpPR10.1. In this study, yeast two-hybrid method was used to screen proteins interacting with VpPR10.1 proteins. Twenty-one ESTs were isolated and sequenced. All sequences were compared using BLASTx to identify presumptive orthologs. Several proteins associated with VpPR10.1 protein were screened, including CNR8, UFGT6, HSP, DEAD-box, Trx h2, Grx C9 and GLOX. These proteins are closely related to defensive action of plants against pathogens and abiotic stresses. Our results reveal that VpPR10.1 gene may be involved in hormone signaling, programmed cell death and defense responses of grapevine.