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Molecular cloning of two novel NPR1 homologue genes in coconut palm and analysis of their expression in response to the plant defense hormone salicylic acid

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Abstract

Nonexpressor of pathogenesis-related gene 1 (NPR1) codes for a transcription cofactor involved in the activation of systemic acquired resistance, a salicylic acid (SA)-dependent defense response. This work reports the cloning and characterization of two new genes, CnNPR1 and CnNPR3 from coconut, homologous to AtNPR1 of Arabidopsis thaliana. The cDNA deduced amino acid sequence contains the protein–protein interaction domains the BTB/POZ and ANKYRIN repeat domains, and a nuclear localization site (NLS). Phylogenetic analysis grouped CnNPR1 in a clade with AtNPR1 and CnNPR3 in a clade with AtNPR3, both reported genes of A. thaliana. Exogenous application of SA to coconut plantlets induced changes in the expression of CnNPR1 and CnNPR3 in leaf, stem and root tissues, providing evidence of their possible role in the signaling cascade leading to SAR in coconut palm. This is the first report on the cloning of putative key genes in the SAR-type defense mechanism in coconut palm.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank to C. Puch-Hau and I. Córdova-Lara, for their technical assistance. Partial funding of the research reported here was provided by CONACyT, Mexico (Grant No. CB 129717) and the Common Found for Commodities, Stanhouderskade 55, 1072 (FIG00 22). Germán Nic-Matos also thanks CONACyT for the scholarship awarded (No. 350913).

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  1. Unidad de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A.C. (CICY), Calle 43 No. 130 x 32 y 34. Chuburná de Hidalgo, Mérida, 97205, Yucatán, México

    Germán Nic-Matos, María Narváez, Santy Peraza-Echeverría, Luis Sáenz & Carlos Oropeza

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  1. Germán Nic-Matos
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  2. María Narváez
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Correspondence to Carlos Oropeza.

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Germán Nic-Matos, María Narvaéz, Santy Peraza-Echeverría, Luis Sáenz and Carlos Oropeza declares that they have no conflict of interest with the contents of the manuscript.

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Nic-Matos, G., Narváez, M., Peraza-Echeverría, S. et al. Molecular cloning of two novel NPR1 homologue genes in coconut palm and analysis of their expression in response to the plant defense hormone salicylic acid. Genes Genom 39, 1007–1019 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13258-017-0566-z

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