Regulation of ethylene-induced transcription of defense genes

Ethylene-induced gene expression has been studied in systems in which the biosynthesis of ethylene is stimulated during developmental process such as ripening of fruit, senescence of flower petals, or during pathogen infection. Functional analysis of the promoters of these genes revealed that the ethylene-responsive cis-elements of fruit ripening genes and senescence genes differed from that of defense genes whose expression is induced by ethylene in response to pathogen infection. The ethylene-responsive element identified as the GCC box (AGCCGCC) is commonly found in the promoter region of the ethylene-inducible defense genes. The ethylene responsive element binding factors that interact with the GCC box were demonstrated to be the transcription factors, which respond to extracellular signals to modulate GCC box-mediated gene expression positively or negatively.