Characterization of a novel RING finger gene OsRFP1, which is induced by ethylene, salicylic acid and blast fungus infection in rice

OsRFP1, a C(3)H(2)C(3)-type zinc finger gene, was isolated through screening a blast-induced rice cDNA library. The full-length cDNA of the OsRFP1 gene is 1393 bp with an open reading frame (ORF) encoding 302 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence of OsRFP1 contains an N-terminal Pfam:zf-CHY domain and a C-terminal C(3)H(2)C(3)-type RING signature. OsRFP1 was found localizing in the nucleus based on the fluorescence emitted by OsRFP1-GFP fusion protein expressed in onion epidermal cells. GAL4 DNA-binding vector pBD-containing OsRFP1 could activate expression of the reporter genes of His/Ade/LacZ in yeast strain AH109 indicating that OsRFP1 has the transcriptional activation activity. RNA blot analysis showed that expression of the OsRFP1 gene was significantly induced by ethylene (ET), salicylic acid (SA) and blast fungus infection. Together, these results indicate that the OsRFP1 may function as a transcriptional regulator in ET-dependent signal pathway in plant defense.