Identification of a SAR8.2 gene in the susceptible host response of Nicotiana benthamiana to Colletotrichum orbiculare.

A SAR8.2 gene, NbSAR8.2m, was obtained from a PCR-selected cDNA subtraction library constructed from mRNA of Nicotiana benthamiana Domin. infected with Colletotrichum orbiculare (Berk & Mont.) von Arx. It is the first SAR8.2 gene described from N. benthamiana and shows relatively high similarity in both the coding and 3'-UTR to NtSAR8.2m of Nicotiana tabacum L. Expression of NbSAR8.2m occurred in healthy plants but was induced 8-fold following infection by C. orbiculare. Virus-induced gene silencing of NbSAR8.2m reduced its expression and resulted in the development of disease symptoms 24 h earlier than in control plants, indicating that NbSAR8.2m affects the length of the biotrophic phase of infection. Both NtSAR8.2m and NbSAR8.2m are unique among the SAR8.2 genes in that they encode for four cysteines near the C-terminus. The conserved cysteines of SAR8.2 genes may indicate roles in stress responses, defence reactions, metal ion homeostasis or other processes.