Abstract
Polygalacturonase inhibitor proteins (PGIPs) have been identified in many plants, including pear, tomato and bean, and have been suggested to contribute to host defense against fungal pathogens. PGIPs from various plant sources differ in their inhibition of polygalacturonases (PGs) from fungal pathogens. Based on inhibition selectivity of individual PGIPs, transgenic expression of heterologous PGIPs provides an experimental system in which PGIPs can be tested for enhancement of pathogen resistance. Sequence analysis of PGIP genes from pear, tomato and bean indicates that they share common structural features including leucine-rich repeat motifs that may play a role in the interaction between PGIPs and PGs and/or other ligands. Expression of the pear PGIP in transgenic tomato plants enhanced resistance to colonization by Botrytis cinerea, indicating that PGIP can contribute to host defenses when expressed in fruit.
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