<p>Pathogenesis-related genes transcriptional activator binds to the GCC-box pathogenesis-related promoter element and activates the plant's defence genes. Ethylene, chemically the simplest plant hormone, participates in a number of stress responses and developmental processes: e.g., fruit ripening, inhibition of stem and root elongation, promotion of seed germination and flowering, senescence of leaves and flowers, and sex determination [<cite idref="PUB00005205"/>]. DNA sequence elements that confer ethylene responsiveness have been shown to contain two 11bp GCC boxes, which are necessary and sufficient for transcriptional control by ethylene. Ethylene responsive element binding proteins (EREBPs) have now been identified in a variety of plants. The proteins share a similar domain of around 59 amino acids, which interacts directly with the GCC box in the ERE.</p> Pathogenesis-related transcriptional factor/ERF, DNA-binding