VvZFP11, a Cys2His2-type zinc finger transcription factor, is involved in defense responses in Vitis vinifera

In plants, many C2H2-type zinc finger transcription factors function in plant defense responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Here, we report cloning and characterization of VvZFP11 which encoded a C2H2-type zinc finger protein (ZFP) in grapevine (Vitis vinifera). Sequence analysis shows that VvZFP11 contained one L-box, two C2H2-type zinc finger motifs and one ERF-associated amphiphilic repression (EAR) motif. The VvZFP11 localized to the nucleus and functional analysis shows that full-length VvZFP11 had no transcriptional activity, but VvZFP11 lacking the EAR motif had a strong transcriptional activity in yeast. In grapevine, expression of VvZFP11 was induced by salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate and also quickly responded to infection with Erisiphe necator. Arabidopsis thaliana plants overexpressing VvZFP11 were more resistant to Golovinomyces cichoracearum, and real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed that defense-related genes AtPR1 and AtPDF1.2 were up-regulated in the overexpressing lines. These results suggest that VvZFP11 might play an important role in defense responses in grapevine.