An evolutionarily conserved mediator of plant disease resistance gene function is required for normal Arabidopsis development

Plants recognize many pathogens through the action of a diverse family of proteins called disease resistance (R) genes. The Arabidopsis R gene RPM1 encodes resistance to specific Pseudomonas syringae strains. We describe an RPM1-interacting protein that is an ortholog of TIP49a, previously shown to interact with the TATA binding protein (TBP) complex and to modulate c-myc- and beta-catenin-mediated signaling in animals. Reduction of Arabidopsis TIP49a (AtTIP49a) mRNA levels results in measurable increases of two R-dependent responses without constitutively activating defense responses, suggesting that AtTIP49a can act as a negative regulator of at least some R functions. Further, AtTIP49a is essential for both sporophyte and female gametophyte viability. Thus, regulators of R function overlap with essential modulators of plant development.