Gene expression analyses of ZmPti1, encoding a maize Pti-like kinase, suggest a role in stress signaling

Pti1 plays an important role in plant disease responses. One full-length cDNA encoding a Pti1 homologue was isolated from maize by RT-PCR and named as ZmPti1. The ZmPti1 protein was expressed in Saccharomyces cereviciae, purified by ProBond Resin and examined for its autophosphorylation ability. The phosphorylation assay in vitro showed that ZmPti1 has a kinase activity. RT-PCR analysis indicated that the ZmPti1 expression is induced by salicylic acid (SA), low-temperature, mannitol and salt, but not by abscisic acid (ABA). Furthermore, in different tissues the ZmPti1 displays different expression patterns. These results demonstrate that ZmPti1 is a novel Pti1-like gene and may play multiple roles in both plant biotic and abiotic resistance pathways.