The Formaldehyde Dehydrogenase SsFdh1 Is Regulated by and Functionally Cooperates with the GATA Transcription Factor SsNsd1 in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

GATA transcription factors (TFs) are common eukaryotic regulators, and glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenases (GD-FDH) are ubiquitous enzymes with formaldehyde detoxification activity. In this study, the formaldehyde dehydrogenase Fdh1 (SsFdh1) was first characterized as an interacting partner of a GATA TF, SsNsd1, in Genetic analysis reveals that SsFdh1 functions in formaldehyde detoxification, nitrogen metabolism, sclerotium development, and pathogenicity. Both SsNsd1 and SsFdh1 harbor typical zinc finger motifs with conserved cysteine residues.

AcERF2, an ethylene-responsive factor of Atriplex canescens, positively modulates osmotic and disease resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Ethylene-responsive factors (ERFs) comprise a large family of transcription factors in plants and play important roles in developmental processes and stress responses. Here, we characterized a novel AP2/ERF transcription factor, AcERF2, from the halophyte Atriplex canescens (four-wing saltbush, Chenopodiaceae). AcERF2 was proved to be a transcriptional activator in yeast and localized to the nucleus upon transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana, indicating its potential role as a transcription factor.