Anion channel SLAH3 is a regulatory target of chitin receptor-associated kinase PBL27 in microbial stomatal closure

In plants, antimicrobial immune responses involve the cellular release of anions and are responsible for the closure of stomatal pores. Detection of microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) induces currents mediated via slow-type (S-type) anion channels by a yet not understood mechanism. Here, we show that stomatal closure to fungal chitin is conferred by the major PRRs for chitin recognition, LYK5 and CERK1, the receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase PBL27, and the SLAH3 anion channel. PBL27 has the capacity to phosphorylate SLAH3, of which S127 and S189 are required to activate SLAH3. Full activation of the channel entails CERK1, depending on PBL27. Importantly, both S127 and S189 residues of SLAH3 are required for chitin-induced stomatal closure and anti-fungal immunity at the whole leaf level. Our results demonstrate a short signal transduction module from MAMP recognition to anion channel activation, and independent of ABA-induced SLAH3 activation.

Regulation of pattern recognition receptor signalling by phosphorylation and ubiquitination

Our understanding of how plant innate immunity is triggered and regulated has seen tremendous progress over the last decade, with many important players identified in the model systems Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa (rice). Identification of these components has come from both genetic screens as well as from proteomics approaches. While genetic approaches are powerful tools of discovery to identify key components in a signalling pathway, the application of genetics is limited when dealing with redundancy or when mutations cause lethal phenotypes. This is where the complementary strength of proteomics has brought major advances. With the advancement in technology in the field of proteomics, not only the proteins involved in innate immune signalling and responses have been identified, but also the posttranslational modifications (PTMs) that these proteins carry have been mapped in more intricate detail and shown to be functionally relevant in both genetic and biochemical terms. Here we discuss the most recent progress in pattern recognition receptor (PRR) signalling with a focus on phosphorylation and ubiquitination.

A Catharanthus roseus BPF-1 homologue interacts with an elicitor-responsive region of the secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene Str and is induced by elicitor via a JA-independent signal transduction pathway

Plants respond to pathogen attack by induction of various defence responses, including the biosynthesis of protective secondary metabolites. In Catharanthus roseus, the elicitor-induced expression of the terpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthetic gene Strictosidine synthase (Str) is mediated via the plant stress hormonejasmonate. In the promoters of several defence-related genes, cis-acting elements have been identified that are important for transcriptional regulation upon stress signals. Here we show that an upstream region in the Str promoter confers responsiveness to partially purified yeast elicitor and jasmonate. Yeast one-hybrid screening with this element as a bait identified a MYB-like protein, which shows high homology to parsley box P-binding factor-1 (PcBPF-1). In vitro analyses showed that the Str promoter fragment contained a novel binding site for BPF-1-like proteins with higher binding affinity than the previously described box P. CrBPF-1 mRNA accumulated rapidly in elicitor-treated C. roseus suspension cells, whereas no induction was observed with jasmonate. Inhibitor studies indicated that CrBPF-1 plays a role in an elicitor-responsive but jasmonate-independent signal transduction pathway, acting downstream of protein phosphorylation and calcium influx.

A novel jasmonate- and elicitor-responsive element in the periwinkle secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene Str interacts with a jasmonate- and elicitor-inducible AP2-domain transcription factor, ORCA2

Jasmonate (JA) is an important plant stress hormone that induces various plant defense responses, including the biosynthesis of protective secondary metabolites. The induction of the secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene Strictosidine synthase (Str) in Catharanthus roseus (periwinkle) cells by elicitor requires JA as a second messenger. A 42 bp region in the Str promoter is both necessary and sufficient for JA- and elicitor-responsive expression. This region is unlike other previously identified JA-responsive regions, and contains a GCC-box-like element. Yeast one-hybrid screening identified cDNAs encoding two AP2-domain proteins. These octadecanoid-derivative responsive Catharanthus AP2-domain (ORCA) proteins bind in a sequence-specific manner the JA- and elicitor-responsive element. ORCA2 trans-activates the Str promoter and its expression is rapidly inducible with JA and elicitor, whereas Orca1 is expressed constitutively. The results indicate that a GCC-box-like element and ORCA2 play key roles in JA- and elicitor-responsive expression of the terpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthetic gene Str.

Involvement of the octadecanoid pathway and protein phosphorylation in fungal elicitor-induced expression of terpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthetic genes in catharanthus roseus

Two key genes in terpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthesis, Tdc and Str, encoding tryptophan decarboxylase and strictosidine synthase, respectively, are coordinately induced by fungal elicitors in suspension-cultured Catharanthus roseus cells. We have studied the roles of the jasmonate biosynthetic pathway and of protein phosphorylation in signal transduction initiated by a partially purified elicitor from yeast extract. In addition to activating Tdc and Str gene expression, the elicitor also induced the biosynthesis of jasmonic acid. The jasmonate precursor alpha-linolenic acid or methyl jasmonate (MeJA) itself induced Tdc and Str gene expression when added exogenously. Diethyldithiocarbamic acid, an inhibitor of jasmonate biosynthesis, blocked both the elicitor-induced formation of jasmonic acid and the activation of terpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthetic genes. The protein kinase inhibitor K-252a abolished both elicitor-induced jasmonate biosynthesis and MeJA-induced Tdc and Str gene expression. Analysis of the expression of Str promoter/gusA fusions in transgenic C. roseus cells showed that the elicitor and MeJA act at the transcriptional level. These results demonstrate that the jasmonate biosynthetic pathway is an integral part of the elicitor-triggered signal transduction pathway that results in the coordinate expression of the Tdc and Str genes and that protein kinases act both upstream and downstream of jasmonates.

The promoter of the strictosidine synthase gene from periwinkle confers elicitor-inducible expression in transgenic tobacco and binds nuclear factors GT-1 and GBF

Strictosidine synthase (STR) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of terpenoid indole alkaloids. This class of secondary metabolites harbours several pharmaceutically important compounds used, among other applications, in cancer treatment. Terpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthesis and expression of biosynthetic genes including Str1 is induced by fungal elicitors. To identify elicitor-responsive regulatory promoter elements and trans-acting factors, the single-copy Str1 gene was isolated from the subtropical plant species Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle). Str1 upstream sequences conferred elicitor-responsive expression to the beta-glucuronidase (gusA) reporter gene in transgenic tobacco plants. Main enhancer sequences within the Str1 promoter region studied were shown to be located between -339 and -145. This region and two other regions of the promoter bound the tobacco nuclear protein factor GT-1. A G-box located around position -105 bound nuclear and cloned G-box-binding factors (GBFs). A mutation that knocked out GBF binding had no measurable effect on expression, which indicates that the G-box is not essential for the elicitor responsiveness of the Str1 promoter. No obvious homologies with promoter elements identified in other elicitor-responsive genes were observed, suggesting that the Str1 gene may depend on novel regulatory mechanisms.