EP3 — Brachypodium distachyon

Summary

BdEP3 (BRADI_2G11140V3) on chromosome 2 of Brachypodium distachyon encodes a protein with a glycosyl hydrolase family 19 domain and chitinase activity (EC 3.2.1.14). It is associated with chitin and polysaccharide breakdown, cell wall macromolecule catabolism, and responses to fungi, bacteria, oomycetes, insects, and viruses. It is linked to systemic acquired resistance, jasmonic acid/ethylene-dependent defense signaling, hypersensitive response cell death, leaf senescence, somatic embryogenesis, and root development. The protein localizes to the apoplast, cell wall, vacuole, secretory vesicles, and plasma membrane. BdEP3 is associated with ethylene sensitivity, pathogen resistance, salt tolerance, seed germination under salt stress, and nematode resistance. Studies of related genes in other species link the chitinase family to disease resistance, growth, and grain traits.