Serine/Threionine (Ser/Thr) protein kinases are multifarious phosphorylation enzymes which also play a central role in signalling events following pathogen recognition in plants. The present study describes cloning and characterisation of upstream promoter region of a Ser/Thr protein kinase (STPK) gene from Piper colubrinum (PcSTPK), a wild species highly resistant to fungal pathogens in the Piper germplasm. The gene was found to be pathogen responsive when challenged with oomycete pathogen – Phytophthora capsici. Transcript abundance of PcSTPK was determined by quantitative real time-polymerase  chain reaction (qRT-PCR) which demonstrated maximum transcript accumulation of PcSTPK in inflorescence, followed by leaf, stem and root tissues. Inoculation of leaf tissues with the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora capsici, also induced significant transcript accumulation of PcSTPK in the plant. Genome walking methodology was adopted to clone upstream promoter elements of PcSTPK. In silico analysis revealed the presence of regulatory elements for light responsiveness, meristem and endosperm expression in addition to various hormone responsive elements. Our results suggest that PcSTPK along with its cis-regulatory elements has a role in modulation of plant stress response.

中文翻译：

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来自Piper colubrinum Link的Ser / Thr蛋白激酶基因同源物的启动子元件的克隆和分析。

丝氨酸/苏氨酸（Ser / Thr）蛋白激酶是多种磷酸化酶，在植物病原体识别后的信号转导事件中也起着核心作用。本研究描述了来自Piper colubrinum（PcSTPK）的Ser / Thr蛋白激酶（STPK）基因上游启动子区域的克隆和特征，Piper colubrinum（PcSTPK）是一种对Piper种质中的真菌病原体具有高度抗性的野生物种。发现该基因在受卵菌病原体–疫霉疫霉侵袭时具有病原体反应性。通过定量实时聚合酶链反应（qRT-PCR）确定了PcSTPK的转录本丰度，该反应证明了PcSTPK的最大转录本积累在花序中，其次是叶，茎和根组织。用卵菌病原体疫霉菌（Phytophthora capsici）接种叶组织也诱导了植物中PcSTPK的大量转录本积累。采用基因组步行方法克隆了PcSTPK的上游启动子。在计算机分析中显示，除了各种激素反应性元件外，还存在光反应性，分生组织和胚乳表达的调控元件。我们的结果表明，PcSTPK及其顺式调节元件在调节植物胁迫反应中具有作用。