EP3 — Oryza sativa Indica Group

Summary

BGIOSGA019834 (EP3, also known as Cht7) on chromosome 5 of Indica rice encodes a chitinase with beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase and chitinase activity, belonging to the glycosyl hydrolase family 19 and containing a chitin-binding domain. The gene is associated with chitin breakdown, polysaccharide catabolism, cell wall modification, and membrane biogenesis. It has been linked to responses to fungi, oomycetes, insects, viruses, hypoxia, silver ions, and amitrole, as well as to systemic acquired resistance, jasmonic acid/ethylene-dependent defense signaling, and somatic embryogenesis. The encoded protein localizes to the apoplast, plant-type cell wall, vacuole, secretory vesicles, and extracellular space. Associations with drought tolerance, salt tolerance, seed germination under salt stress, ethylene sensitivity, and resistance to pathogens including nematodes and Magnaporthe oryzae have been noted. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to pollen tube growth and disease resistance to Botrytis cinerea.