A novel ankyrin repeat-rich gene in potato, Star, involved in response to late blight

The Solanum tuberosum ankyrin repeat gene (Star) is a novel gene from potato leaves challenged by Phytophthora infestans, a pathogen causing late blight disease. The gene was isolated, based on the reported expressed sequence tag, by the rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Star contains a maximum open reading frame of 1542 bp encoding a peptide with 514 amino acids, and it encodes a RING finger ankyrin repeat protein, a putative E3 ubiquitin ligase. To the authors' knowledge, it is the first RING finger ankyrin repeat gene isolated from the potato. The gene is highly expressed in roots, stems, and flowers at the transcript level. Star mRNA was strongly expressed from 24 to 72 h in potato leaves inoculated with P. infestans. The results suggested that Star may be involved in the development of organs and may play a role in late blight resistance.