A single plant resistance gene promoter engineered to recognize multiple TAL effectors from disparate pathogens

Plant pathogenic bacteria of the genus Xanthomonas inject transcription-activator like (TAL) effector proteins that manipulate the hosts' transcriptome to promote disease. However, in some cases plants take advantage of this mechanism to trigger defense responses. For example, transcription of the pepper Bs3 and rice Xa27 resistance (R) genes are specifically activated by the respective TAL effectors AvrBs3 from Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Xcv), and AvrXa27 from X. oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). Recognition of AvrBs3 was shown to be mediated by interaction with the corresponding UPT (UPregulated by TAL effectors) box UPT(AvrBs3) present in the promoter R gene Bs3 from the dicot pepper. In contrast, it was not known how the Xoo TAL effector AvrXa27 transcriptionally activates the matching R gene Xa27 from the monocot rice. Here we identified a 16-bp UPT(AvrXa27) box present in the rice Xa27 promoter that when transferred into the Bs3 promoter confers AvrXa27-dependent inducibility. We demonstrate that polymorphisms between the UPT(AvrXa27) box of the AvrXa27-inducible Xa27 promoter and the corresponding region of the noninducible xa27 promoter account for their distinct inducibility and affinity, with respect to AvrXa27. Moreover, we demonstrate that three functionally distinct UPT boxes targeted by separate TAL effectors retain their function and specificity when combined into one promoter. Given that many economically important xanthomonads deliver multiple TAL effectors, the engineering of R genes capable of recognizing multiple TAL effectors provides a potential approach for engineering broad spectrum and durable disease resistance.