ИСТИНА

Plant cell wall damage results in the emission of multiple volatile organic compounds including gaseous methanol (MeOH). MeOH was demonstrated to be a signal molecule launching plant defense reactions. Although the mechanism of MeOH action is unknown it was shown that it activates the expression of methanol-inducible genes (MIGs) among which is MIG21. MIG21 encodes MIG21 which does not share any homology with annotated proteins. MIG21p affects the intercellular and nucleocytoplasmic transport of macromolecules. Using transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana and fluorescent microscopy we have demonstrated that MIG21p fused with fluorescent protein has nuclear localization predominantly occupying nucleolus and other subnuclear structures. To clarify MIG21p function we performed protein in vitro binding with several known promoter sequences followed by in-gel retardation assay. MIG21p was shown to bind various promoter regions including its own promoter. Taking into account MIG21p nuclear localization and its ability to interact with DNA we could speculate that it performs regulatory functions during plant defense reactions.