Publications by authors named "Junbin Cheng"

We identified a miraculin-like protein (NaMLP) who is a new Kunitz trypsin inhibitor regulated synergistically by JA and ethylene signals and confers Spodoptera litura resistance in wild tobacco Nicotiana attenuata. The findings revealed a new source of trypsin inhibitor activities after herbivory, and provide new insights into the complexity of the regulation of trypsin inhibitor-based defense after insect herbivore attack. Upon insect herbivore attack, wild tobacco Nicotiana attenuata accumulates trypsin protease inhibitor (TPI) activities as a defense response from different protease inhibitor (PI) coding genes, including WRKY3-regulated NaKTI2, and JA-dependent NaPI.

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In photosynthetic organisms except angiosperms, an alternative electron sink that is mediated by flavodiiron proteins (FLVs) plays the major role in preventing PSI photoinhibition while cyclic electron flow (CEF) is also essential for normal growth under fluctuating light. However, the dynamic changes of FLVs and CEF has not yet been well clarified. In this study, we measured the P700 signal, chlorophyll fluorescence, and electrochromic shift spectra in the fern and the gymnosperm .

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Leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases (LRR-RKs), belonging to the largest subfamily of transmembrane receptor-like kinases in plants, are proposed to be involved in pathogen resistance. However, it is currently unknown whether LRR-RKs regulate Nicotiana attenuata resistance to Alternaria alternata, a notorious fungal pathogen causing tobacco brown disease. During transcriptome analysis, we identified a highly induced receptor kinase (NaLRR-RK4) in N.

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Although patatin was initially identified as a major storage protein in potato tubers, patatin-like proteins (PLPs) have been recently reported to be widely present in many plant species and shown to be involved in plant-pathogen interactions. However, it is not clear whether PLPs are involved in resistance against the necrotrophic fungal pathogen, . In this study we identified a gene, whose expression was highly elicited by inoculation.

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As Ca2+ sensors and effectors, calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) play important roles in plant growth, development, and response to environmental cues. However, no CDPKs have been characterized in Capsicum annuum thus far. Herein, a genome wide comprehensive analysis of genes encoding CDPKs and CDPK-related protein kinases (CRKs) was performed in pepper, a total of 31 CDPK genes and five closely related kinase genes were identified, which were phylogenetically divided into four distinct subfamilies and unevenly distributed across nine chromosomes.

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High temperature (HT), high humidity (HH), and pathogen infection often co-occur and negatively affect plant growth. However, these stress factors and plant responses are generally studied in isolation. The mechanisms of synergistic responses to combined stresses are poorly understood.

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