RPS2 of <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> : a Leucine-Rich Repeat Class of Plant Disease Resistance Genes

TLDR

Plant disease resistance genes enable highly specific pathogen recognition, and in Arabidopsis thaliana the RPS2 gene confers resistance to Pseudomonas syringae expressing avrRpt2, with its protein containing leucine‑rich repeats, a membrane‑spanning region, a leucine zipper, and a P‑loop domain. RPS2 was identified via positional cloning, and its product is thought to participate in defense signaling through nucleotide‑triphosphate binding, protein‑protein interactions, and possibly by sensing an elicitor from the avirulent pathogen.

Abstract

Plant disease resistance genes function in highly specific pathogen recognition pathways. RPS2 is a resistance gene of Arabidopsis thaliana that confers resistance against Pseudomonas syringae bacteria that express avirulence gene avrRpt2 . RPS2 was isolated by the use of a positional cloning strategy. The derived amino acid sequence of RPS2 contains leucine-rich repeat, membrane-spanning, leucine zipper, and P loop domains. The function of the RPS2 gene product in defense signal transduction is postulated to involve nucleotide triphosphate binding and protein-protein interactions and may also involve the reception of an elicitor produced by the avirulent pathogen.