Redox Control of Defense Gene Expression

Appropriate adjustment of gene expression is controlled by transcription factors. These sequence specific DNA binding proteins act at the interface between the DNA and the regulatory protein network. Our work has focused on TGA transcription factors which play important roles in plant defense and stress responses.

TGA transcription factors interact with glutaredoxins. Glutaredoxins are small heat stable proteins that transfer electrons from glutathione (GSH) to oxidized cysteine residues thereby contributing to protein integrity and regulation. We are interested to analyze which proteins are redox-modified by the plant-specific glutaredoxins ROXY9, ROXY18 and ROXY19.