An AC-Rich Bean Element Serves as an Ethylene-Responsive Element in .

Ethylene-responsive elements (EREs), such as the GCC box, are critical for ethylene-regulated transcription in plants. Our previous work identified a 19-bp AC-rich element (ACE) in the promoter of bean () (). Ethylene response factor 15 (PvERF15) directly binds ACE to enhance expression. As a novel ERF-binding element, ACE exhibits a significant difference from the GCC box. Here, we demonstrated that ACE serves as an ERE in . It conferred the minimal promoter to respond to the ethylene stress and inhibition of ethylene. Moreover, the -acting element ACE could specifically bind the nuclear proteins in vitro. We further revealed that the first 9-bp sequence of ACE (ACE) is importantly required by the binding of nuclear proteins. In addition, and were strongly induced by ethylene in bean seedlings. Since PvERF15 activates via ACE, ACE is involved in ethylene-induced expression. Taken together, our findings provide genetic and biochemical evidence for a new ERE.