Encodes Receptor-Like Cytoplasmic Kinase 109, Which Regulates Cell Death and Defense Responses in Rice.

Lesion mimic mutants are excellent models for research on molecular mechanisms of cell death and defense responses in rice. We identified a new rice lesion mimic mutant from a mutant pool of rice cultivar "ZhongHui8015". The gene was identified by MutMap, and was confirmed as a receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase 109 by amino acid sequence analysis. The mutant displayed dark brown lesions in leaves and growth retardation that were not observed in wild-type ZH8015. The results of histochemical staining and TUNEL assays showed enhanced ROS accumulation and cell death in . Chloroplast degradation was observed in leaves, with decreased expression of photosynthesis-related genes and increased expression of the senescence-induced () gene and other senescence-associated genes. Furthermore, exhibited enhanced resistance to rice blast fungus () and up-regulation of defense response genes. Our data demonstrate that regulates cell death and defense responses in rice.