Three transcripts of EDS1-like genes respond differently to Vitis flexuosa infection

Enhanced disease susceptibility1 (EDS1) is a regulator of basal defense responses required for resistance mediated by TIR-NBS-LRR containing R proteins. We identified three transcripts of EDS1-like genes encompassing diverse/ separate expression patterns, based on the transcriptome analysis by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) of V. flexuosa inoculated with Elsinoe ampelina. These genes were designated VfEDL1 (Vitis flexuosa Enhanced Disease Susceptibility1-like1), VfEDL2 and VfEDL3, and contained 2464, 1719 and 1599 bp, with 1791, 1227 and 1599 bp open reading frames (ORFs), encoding proteins of 596, 408 and 532 amino acids, respectively. The predicted amino acid sequences of all three genes showed the L-family lipase-like domain (class 3 lipase domain), and exhibited a potential lipase catalytic triad, aspartic acid, histidine and serine in the conserved G-X-S-X-G. All three VfEDL genes were upregulated at 1 hpi against the bacterial and fungal pathogens Rizhobium vitis and E. ampelina, respectively, except VfEDL1, which was downregulated against E. ampelina at all time points. Against E. ampelina, VfEDL2 and VfEDL3 showed downregulated expression at later time points. When evaluated against R. vitis, VfEDL1 showed downregulated expression at all time points after 1 hpi, while VfEDL3 showed upregulation up to 24 hpi. Based on the expression response, all three genes may be involved in plant resistant responses against R. vitis, and VfEDL2 and VfEDL3 show additional resistant responses against E. ampelina infection.