病原菌Pst DC3000侵染拟南芥导致自噬和光合作用的抑制

在病原菌侵染下,植物体是如何通过超敏反应限制病原菌扩增的,到目前为止还不清楚。最近的研究显示自噬起了必要的作用,可见,研究自噬和超敏反应的机制非常重要。本研究通过观察在非寄主病原菌突变体丁香假单胞菌番茄致病变种(Pseudomonas syringae pv.tomatoDC3000,Pst DC3000)的侵染下,拟南芥光合功能的变化及自噬现象出现的情况,以为进一步研究植物抗病机理提供实验基础。以野生型拟南芥为材料,采用光谱分析和叶绿素荧光成像分析手段,研究不同浓度的Pst DC3000侵染对拟南芥离体叶片光合功能的影响;以转基因野生型拟南芥(绿色荧光蛋白标记的自噬基因8a)幼根为材料,应用共聚焦显微镜,研究不同浓度的Pst DC3000诱导拟南芥自噬的情况。实验发现,OD600=0.2的Pst DC3000侵染,可显著诱导拟南芥叶片活性氧的积累和迸发,并会引起拟南芥叶片光合作用效率的下降。同时发现,该病原菌处理2 h,可导致拟南芥根中自噬小体的产生。用2',7'-二氯二氢荧光素二乙酯(2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate,H2DCFDA)标记活性氧,检测了P...     

H2S位于SOS上游参与盐胁迫诱导的拟南芥气孔关闭

以拟南芥野生型、SOS突变体(Atsos1、Atsos2和Atsos3)、H2S合成相关酶L-/D-半胱氨酸脱巯基酶(L-/D-CDes)基因缺失突变体(Atl-cdes和Atd-cdes)和过表达株系(OEL-CDes和OED-CDes)为材料研究了H2S和SOS信号转导途径在盐胁迫诱导拟南芥气孔关闭中的作用及其相互关系。结果表明,盐胁迫能够引起拟南芥叶片H2S含量、L-/D-CDes活性及其基因表达量显著升高,诱导野生型拟南芥和OEL-CDes和OED-CDes叶片气孔关闭,但对Atl-cdes和Atd-cdes气孔开度无显著影响;而H2S清除剂次牛磺酸(hypotaurine,HT)可减弱盐胁迫诱导的拟南芥气孔关闭的作用,表明H2S参与盐胁迫诱导的拟南芥气孔关闭过程。外源H2S诱导野生型拟南芥气孔关闭,但对SOS突变体气孔开度无显著影响;同时盐胁迫下Atsos1、Atsos2和At-sos3亦表现出H2S含量及L-/D-CDes活性显著升高,且与野生型相比,盐胁迫对Atl-cdes和Atd-cdes叶片AtSOS基因表达量无显著影响。表明盐胁迫诱导气孔关闭过程中H2S位于SOS上游。     

SPINDLY在壳寡糖诱导拟南芥抗丁香假单胞菌中的功能

为了探讨拟南芥O-岩藻糖基转移酶(SPINDLY)在病原体相关分子模式诱导抗性中的作用,该研究以SPINDLY缺失拟南芥突变体spy-3为实验材料,从叶片表型、病情指数、病菌定殖量以及丁香假单胞菌(Pst DC3000)关键基因的表达水平等指标,系统考察了SPINDLY在壳寡糖诱导拟南芥抗Pst DC3000中的功能。结果显示:(1)spy-3突变体比野生型更易被Pst DC3000侵染。(2)与病菌侵染组相比,壳寡糖预处理明显缓解植株叶片黄化现象,显著降低Pst DC3000的定殖量。(3)壳寡糖预处理的spy-3植株中水杨酸和茉莉酸途径相关基因的表达量及水杨酸和茉莉酸含量均较病菌侵染组明显升高。(4)壳寡糖在spy-3中的诱抗效果与野生型相比无明显差别。研究表明,SPINDLY在植物先天免疫过程发挥重要作用,但并不影响壳寡糖的诱导抗性。     

DREB类转录因子介导的烟草抗非生物胁迫特性研究

检测并分析了转BnDREB1-5基因烟草叶片的持水性能,上、下表皮气孔大小和密度及叶绿素含量,并在自然失水7 h后检测了细胞的离子泄漏状况。结果表明:转基因烟草叶片单位时间内每平方厘米的失水量是野生型烟草叶片的62%;上表皮的气孔大于野生型,而气孔开度小于野生型;野生型烟草叶片上的气孔密度接近转基因烟草的1.5倍;野生型烟草叶片的叶绿素含量比转基因烟草叶片高29%;野生型烟草叶片的质膜相对透性是转基因烟草叶片的1.4倍。     

H2S位于SOS上游参与盐胁迫诱导的拟南芥气孔关闭

以拟南芥野生型、SOS突变体印tsosl、Atsos2和Atsos3）、H2S合成相关酶L-／D-半胱氨酸脱巯基酶（L-／D-CDes）基因缺失突变体（Atl-cdes和Atd-cdes）和过表达株系（OEL—CDes和OED-CDes）为材料研究了H,s和SOS信号转导途径在盐胁迫诱导拟南芥气孔关闭中的作用及其相互关系。结果表明,盐胁迫能够引起拟南芥叶片H,S含量、L-／D-CDes活性及其基因表达量显著升高,诱导野生型拟南芥和OEL—CDes和OED．CDes叶片气孔关闭,但对Atl-cdes和Atd-cdes气孔开度无显著影响;而H2S清除剂次牛磺酸（hypotaurine,HT）可减弱盐胁迫诱导的拟南芥气孔关闭的作用,表明H2S参与盐胁迫诱导的拟南芥气孔关闭过程。外源H2S诱导野生型拟南芥气孔关闭,但对SOS突变体气孔开度无显著影响;同时盐胁迫下Atsosl、Atsos2和Atsos3亦表现出H2S含量及L-／D-CDes活性显著升高,且与野生型相比,盐胁迫对Atl-cdes和Atd-cdes叶片AtSOS基因表达量无显著影响。表明盐胁迫诱导气孔关闭过程中H2S位于SOS上游。     

H2S位于H2O2下游参与乙烯诱导拟南芥气孔关闭过程

H2O2和H2S是植物体内重要的信号分子,二者均参与乙烯诱导的拟南芥气孔关闭过程。以拟南芥野生型及其突变体为材料研究了H2O2和H2S在乙烯诱导拟南芥气孔关闭过程中的相互关系。结果表明,乙烯能够诱导野生型拟南芥叶片H2S含量及L-/D-半胱氨酸脱巯基酶(L-/D-CDes)活性显著增加,促进气孔关闭,但对H2O2合成突变体AtrbohD、AtrbohF、Atpao2和Atpao4植株叶片无显著作用;乙烯亦可引起H2S合成突变体Atl-cdes和Atd-cdes气孔保卫细胞H2O2水平的显著增加,但对其气孔运动没有显著作用。此外,H2O2清除剂和合成抑制剂均能抑制乙烯诱导的拟南芥叶片H2S含量和L-/D-CDes活性的增加及气孔开度的减小;而H2S清除剂和合成抑制剂虽能抑制乙烯诱导的气孔关闭,却不能改变乙烯对拟南芥叶片气孔保卫细胞H2O2的作用效应。由此表明H2S位于H2O2下游介导乙烯诱导拟南芥气孔关闭过程。     

UV-B对拟南芥叶片不同来源H2O2的活化和气孔关闭的诱导

在UV-B调控植物许多生理过程中过氧化氢(H2O2)作为第二信使发挥着重要作用,但H2O2来源途径并不清楚。该研究借助气孔开度分析和激光扫描共聚焦显微镜技术,探讨H2O2在介导不同剂量UV-B诱导拟南芥叶片气孔关闭过程中的酶学来源途径。结果发现:0.5W.m-2 UV-B能诱导野生型拟南芥叶片保卫细胞的H2O2产生和气孔关闭,且该效应能被NADPH氧化酶抑制剂二苯基碘(DPI)抑制,而不能被细胞壁过氧化物酶抑制剂水杨基氧肟酸(SHAM)抑制,同时该剂量UV-B也不能诱导NADPH氧化酶功能缺失单突变体AtrbohD和AtrbohF以及双突变体AtrbohD/F保卫细胞的H2O2产生和气孔关闭;相反,0.65 W.m-2 UV-B既能诱导野生型也能诱导NADPH氧化酶突变体保卫细胞的H2O2产生和气孔关闭,且该效应能被SHAM抑制,却不能被DPI抑制。结果表明,不同剂量UV-B通过活化不同生成途径的H2O2来诱导拟南芥叶片气孔关闭,即低剂量UV-B主要诱导NADPH氧化酶AtrbohD和AtrbohF途径来源的H2O2生成,而高剂量UV-B主要活化细胞壁过氧化酶途径来源的H2O2。     

保卫细胞中ABA信号调控机制研究进展

脱落酸(ABA)具有调节植物快速响应逆境的重要功能。植物细胞中ABA核心信号通路由ABA受体PYR1/PYLs/ RCARs、A类碱性蛋白磷酸酶PP2Cs和Snf1相关蛋白激酶SnRK2s组成。活性氧(ROS)和Ca²⁺是保卫细胞中的重要第二信使, 调控ABA诱导的气孔关闭。该文对保卫细胞中核心ABA信号蛋白的调控以及ROS和Ca²⁺介导的ABA信号转导等最新研究成果进行综述, 旨在阐明保卫细胞中ABA信号调控机制。     

过量表达拟南芥CAT提高烟草对气体甲醛的吸收和抗性

为提高植物对甲醛的吸收和耐受,利用拟南芥CAT的编码区构建植物过表达载体pk2-Prbc S-*T-CAT,在野生型(WT)烟草叶绿体中过量表达CAT产生2个表达量不同的转基因株系(C1、C3)。用10ppm、20ppm和40ppm气体甲醛处理WT和转基因烟草,分析过量表达CAT的转基因烟草对甲醛的吸收效率和耐受性。结果表明,转基因烟草对气体甲醛的吸收量明显高于WT,且随着处理浓度的升高,转基因株系叶片的可溶性总糖、总蛋白质和总叶绿素含量都显著高于WT;转基因株系叶片氧化损伤指标H202、丙二醛(MDA)和羰基化蛋白(PC)的含量都显著低于野生型。转基因烟草(C1)的PM H+-ATPase和氢泵活性在40ppm处理后为WT的3倍和2.5倍,C1的气孔导度为WT的2.67倍。这些结果表明,在烟草中过量表达拟南芥CAT能降低甲醛进入烟草细胞引起的氧化损伤,提高烟草对甲醛的脱毒能力,增强烟草对甲醛的吸收和抗性。揭示气体甲醛胁迫时质膜H+-ATPase和氢泵活性影响叶片气孔的导度,这可能是转基因烟草甲醛吸收效率提高的原因之一。     

H_2O_2介导H_2S诱导的拟南芥气孔关闭

以拟南芥（Arabidopsis thaliana）为材料,研究了过氧化氢（H2O2）在硫化氢（H2S）调控气孔运动信号转导中的作用。结果表明,光下H2S的供体硫氢化钠（NaHS）能够诱导拟南芥气孔关闭;且能够显著提高叶片和保卫细胞胞质H2O2含量;H2O2的清除剂AsA和H2O2合成酶的抑制剂可不同程度地抑制NaHS诱导的拟南芥气孔关闭及叶片和保卫细胞胞质H2O2水平的升高;NaHS对AtrbohD、AtrbohF、Atpao2和Atpao4突变体气孔关闭、叶片和保卫细胞胞质H2O2水平升高的诱导作用要明显的小于野生型,但对AtPAO2和AtPAO4过表达株系叶片和保卫细胞H2O2水平的升高较野生型显著。据此推测,来源于NADPH氧化酶、细胞壁过氧化物酶和多胺氧化酶途径的H2O2参与H2S诱导的拟南芥气孔关闭。     

The Arabidopsis Lectin Receptor Kinase LecRK-V.5 Represses Stomatal Immunity Induced by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000

Stomata play an important role in plant innate immunity by limiting pathogen entry into leaves but molecular mechanisms regulating stomatal closure upon pathogen perception are not well understood. Here we show that the Arabidopsis thaliana L-type lectin receptor kinase-V.5 (LecRK-V.5) negatively regulates stomatal immunity. Loss of LecRK-V.5 function increased resistance to surface inoculation with virulent bacteria Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000. Levels of resistance were not affected after infiltration-inoculation, suggesting that LecRK-V.5 functions at an early defense stage. By contrast, lines overexpressing LecRK-V.5 were more susceptible to Pst DC3000. Enhanced resistance in lecrk-V.5 mutants was correlated with constitutive stomatal closure, while increased susceptibility phenotypes in overexpression lines were associated with early stomatal reopening. Lines overexpressing LecRK-V.5 also demonstrated a defective stomatal closure after pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) treatments. LecRK-V.5 is rapidly expressed in stomatal guard cells after bacterial inoculation or treatment with the bacterial PAMP flagellin. In addition, lecrk-V.5 mutants guard cells exhibited constitutive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibition of ROS production opened stomata of lecrk-V.5. LecRK-V.5 is also shown to interfere with abscisic acid-mediated stomatal closure signaling upstream of ROS production. These results provide genetic evidences that LecRK-V.5 negatively regulates stomatal immunity upstream of ROS biosynthesis. Our data reveal that plants have evolved mechanisms to reverse bacteria-mediated stomatal closure to prevent long-term effect on CO₂ uptake and photosynthesis.     

Silencing MPK4 in Nicotiana attenuata enhances photosynthesis and seed production but compromises abscisic acid-induced stomatal closure and guard cell-mediated resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) play pivotal roles in development and environmental interactions in eukaryotes. Here, we studied the function of a MAPK, NaMPK4, in the wild tobacco species Nicotiana attenuata. The NaMPK4-silenced N. attenuata (irNaMPK4) attained somewhat smaller stature, delayed senescence, and greatly enhanced stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rate, especially during late developmental stages. All these changes were associated with highly increased seed production. Using leaf epidermal peels, we demonstrate that guard cell closure in irNaMPK4 was strongly impaired in response to abscisic acid and hydrogen peroxide, and consistently, irNaMPK4 plants transpired more water and wilted sooner than did wild-type plants when they were deprived of water. We show that NaMPK4 plays an important role in the guard cell-mediated defense against a surface-deposited bacterial pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato (Pst) DC3000; in contrast, when bacteria directly entered leaves by pressure infiltration, NaMPK4 was found to be less important in the resistance to apoplast-located Pst DC3000. Moreover, we show that salicylic acid was not involved in the defense against PstDC3000 in wild-type and irNaMPK4 plants once it had entered leaf tissue. Finally, we provide evidence that NaMPK4 functions differently from AtMPK4 and AtMPK11 in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), despite their sequence similarities, suggesting a complex functional divergence of MAPKs in different plant lineages. This work highlights the multifaceted functions of NaMPK4 in guard cells and underscores its role in mediating various ecologically important traits.     

The Pseudomonas syringae type III effector tyrosine phosphatase HopAO1 suppresses innate immunity in Arabidopsis thaliana

The bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) strain DC3000 infects tomato and Arabidopsis plants, and is a model for studying the molecular basis of bacterial disease. Pst DC3000 secretes a battery of largely uncharacterized effector proteins into host cells via a type-III secretion system (TTSS). Little is currently known about the molecular mechanisms by which individual TTSS effectors promote virulence. The effector HopAO1 has similarity to protein tyrosine phosphatases, including a conserved catalytic site, and suppresses the hypersensitive response (HR) in some non-host plants. Whether HopAO1 has a similar effect in the host Arabidopsis is not clear. Here, we show that transgenic expression of HopAO1 in Arabidopsis suppresses callose deposition elicited by the Pst DC3000 hrpA mutant, and allows the normally non-pathogenic hrpA mutant to multiply within the leaf tissue. HopAO1 also suppresses resistance to Pst DC3000 induced by flg22, a pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP). However, HopAO1 does not suppress the HR triggered by several classical avirulence genes. These results suggest that HopAO1 targets primarily PAMP-induced innate immunity in Arabidopsis. The virulence function of HopAO1 is dependent on an intact phosphatase catalytic site, as transgenic plants expressing a catalytically inactive derivative do not show these effects. Intriguingly, expression of the catalytically inactive HopAO1 has a dominant-negative effect on the function of the wild-type HopAO1. Analysis of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity suggests that HopAO1 targets a step downstream or independent of MAPK activation. Genome-wide expression analysis revealed that expression of several well-known defense genes was suppressed in hrpA mutant-infected HopAO1 transgenic plants.     

A genetic screen reveals Arabidopsis stomatal and/or apoplastic defenses against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000

Bacterial infection of plants often begins with colonization of the plant surface, followed by entry into the plant through wounds and natural openings (such as stomata), multiplication in the intercellular space (apoplast) of the infected tissues, and dissemination of bacteria to other plants. Historically, most studies assess bacterial infection based on final outcomes of disease and/or pathogen growth using whole infected tissues; few studies have genetically distinguished the contribution of different host cell types in response to an infection. The phytotoxin coronatine (COR) is produced by several pathovars of Pseudomonas syringae. COR-deficient mutants of P. s. tomato (Pst) DC3000 are severely compromised in virulence, especially when inoculated onto the plant surface. We report here a genetic screen to identify Arabidopsis mutants that could rescue the virulence of COR-deficient mutant bacteria. Among the susceptible to coronatine-deficient Pst DC3000 (scord) mutants were two that were defective in stomatal closure response, two that were defective in apoplast defense, and four that were defective in both stomatal and apoplast defense. Isolation of these three classes of mutants suggests that stomatal and apoplastic defenses are integrated in plants, but are genetically separable, and that COR is important for Pst DC3000 to overcome both stomatal guard cell- and apoplastic mesophyll cell-based defenses. Of the six mutants defective in bacterium-triggered stomatal closure, three are defective in salicylic acid (SA)-induced stomatal closure, but exhibit normal stomatal closure in response to abscisic acid (ABA), and scord7 is compromised in both SA- and ABA-induced stomatal closure. We have cloned SCORD3, which is required for salicylic acid (SA) biosynthesis, and SCORD5, which encodes an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) protein, AtGCN20/AtABCF3, predicted to be involved in stress-associated protein translation control. Identification of SCORD5 begins to implicate an important role of stress-associated protein translation in stomatal guard cell signaling in response to microbe-associated molecular patterns and bacterial infection.     

Tomato SlSAP3, a member of the stress-associated protein family,is a positive regulator of immunity against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000

Tomato stress-associated proteins (SAPs) belong to A20/AN1 zinc finger protein family, some of which have been shown to play important roles in plant stress responses. However, little is known about the functions and underlying molecular mechanisms of SAPs in plant immune responses. In the present study, we reported the function of tomato SlSAP3 in immunity to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) DC3000. Silencing of SlSAP3 attenuated while overexpression of SlSAP3 in transgenic tomato increased immunity to Pst DC3000, accompanied with reduced and increased Pst DC3000-induced expression of SA signalling and defence genes, respectively. Flg22-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst and expression of PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI) marker genes SlPTI5 and SlLRR22 were strengthened in SlSAP3-OE plants but were weakened in SlSAP3-silenced plants. SlSAP3 interacted with two SlBOBs and the A20 domain in SlSAP3 is critical for the SlSAP3-SlBOB1 interaction. Silencing of SlBOB1 and co-silencing of all three SlBOB genes conferred increased resistance to Pst DC3000, accompanied with increased Pst DC3000-induced expression of SA signalling and defence genes. These data demonstrate that SlSAP3 acts as a positive regulator of immunity against Pst DC3000 in tomato through the SA signalling and that SlSAP3 may exert its function in immunity by interacting with other proteins such as SlBOBs, which act as negative regulators of immunity against Pst DC3000 in tomato.     

Disease resistance to Pectobacterium carotovorum is negatively modulated by the Arabidopsis Lectin Receptor Kinase LecRK-V.5

Plant stomata function in disease resistance by restricting bacteria entry inside leaves. During plant-bacteria interactions, stomatal closure is initiated by the recognition of Microbe-Associated Molecular Patterns (MAMPs). Recently, we have shown that the Lectin Receptor Kinase V.5 (LecRK-V.5) negatively regulates bacterium- and MAMP-induced stomatal closure upstream of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production mediated by abscisic acid signaling. Closed stomata in lecrk-V.5 mutants are correlated with constitutive high level of ROS in guard cells. Consequently, lecrk-V.5 mutants are more resistant to hemi-biotrophic pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000 (Pst DC3000). In this report, we further investigate the role of LecRK-V.5 in resistance against necrotrophic bacteria Pectobacterium carotovorum ssp. carotovorum (Pcc). Upon surface-inoculation lecrk-V.5 mutants exhibited enhanced resistance against Pcc whereas a wild-type level of resistance was observed using infiltration-inoculation, an inoculation method that bypasses the epidermal barrier. Enhanced resistance of dip-inoculated lecrk-V.5 mutants against necrotrophic bacteria, that induce different defense responses than hemi-biotrophic bacteria, further suggests a possible role for LecRK-V.5 in stomatal immunity.     

Defence responses of Arabidopsis thaliana to infection by Pseudomonas syringae are regulated by the circadian clock

The circadian clock allows plants to anticipate predictable daily changes in abiotic stimuli, such as light; however, whether the clock similarly allows plants to anticipate interactions with other organisms is unknown. Here we show that Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) has circadian clock-mediated variation in resistance to the virulent bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pst DC3000), with plants being least susceptible to infection in the subjective morning. We suggest that the increased resistance to Pst DC3000 observed in the morning in Col-0 plants results from clock-mediated modulation of pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-triggered immunity. Analysis of publicly available microarray data revealed that a large number of Arabidopsis defence-related genes showed both diurnal- and circadian-regulation, including genes involved in the perception of the PAMP flagellin which exhibit a peak in expression in the morning. Accordingly, we observed that PAMP-triggered callose deposition was significantly higher in wild-type plants inoculated with Pst DC3000 hrpA in the subjective morning than in the evening, while no such temporal difference was evident in arrhythmic plants. Our results suggest that PAMP-triggered immune responses are modulated by the circadian clock and that temporal regulation allows plants to anticipate and respond more effectively to pathogen challenges in the daytime.     

Roles of RCN1, regulatory A subunit of protein phosphatase 2A, in methyl jasmonate signaling and signal crosstalk between methyl jasmonate and abscisic acid

Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) as well as abscisic acid (ABA) induces stomatal closure with their signal crosstalk. We investigated the function of a regulatory A subunit of protein phosphatase 2A, RCN1, in MeJA signaling. Both MeJA and ABA failed to induce stomatal closure in Arabidopsis rcn1 knockout mutants unlike in wild-type plants. Neither MeJA nor ABA induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and suppressed inward-rectifying potassium channel activities in rcn1 mutants but not in wild-type plants. These results suggest that RCN1 functions upstream of ROS production and downstream of the branch point of MeJA signaling and ABA signaling in Arabidopsis guard cells.     

Salicylic acid-mediated innate immunity in Arabidopsis is regulated by SIZ1 SUMO E3 ligase

Reversible modifications of target proteins by small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) proteins are involved in many cellular processes in yeast and animals. Yet little is known about the function of sumoylation in plants. Here, we show that the SIZ1 gene, which encodes an Arabidopsis SUMO E3 ligase, regulates innate immunity. Mutant siz1 plants exhibit constitutive systemic-acquired resistance (SAR) characterized by elevated accumulation of salicylic acid (SA), increased expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes, and increased resistance to the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) DC3000. Transfer of the NahG gene to siz1 plants results in reversal of these phenotypes back to wild-type. Analyses of the double mutants, npr1 siz1, pad4 siz1 and ndr1 siz1 revealed that SIZ1 controls SA signalling. SIZ1 interacts epistatically with PAD4 to regulate PR expression and disease resistance. Consistent with these observations, siz1 plants exhibited enhanced resistance to Pst DC3000 expressing avrRps4, a bacterial avirulence determinant that responds to the EDS1/PAD4-dependent TIR-NBS-type R gene. In contrast, siz1 plants were not resistant to Pst DC3000 expressing avrRpm1, a bacterial avirulence determinant that responds to the NDR1-dependent CC-NBS-type R gene. Jasmonic acid (JA)-induced PDF1.2 expression and susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea were unaltered in siz1 plants. Taken together, these results demonstrate that SIZ1 is required for SA and PAD4-mediated R gene signalling, which in turn confers innate immunity in Arabidopsis.     

The plant innate immunity response in stomatal guard cells invokes G-protein-dependent ion channel regulation

Stomata in the epidermis of terrestrial plants are important for CO2 absorption and transpirational water loss, and are also potential points of entry for pathogens. Stomatal opening and closure are controlled by distinct mechanisms. Arabidopsis stomata have been shown to close in response to bacteria and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) as part of PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI). Here we show that flg22, a PAMP derived from bacterial flagellin, also inhibits light-induced stomatal opening. Consistent with our observations on stomatal opening, flg22 inhibits the inward K+ channels (K+ (in) currents) of guard cells that mediate K+ uptake during stomatal opening. Similar to previously documented K+ current changes triggered by exogenous elevation of H(2)O(2) and nitric oxide (NO), with prolonged duration of flg22 exposure the outward K+ channels (K+ (out) currents) of guard cells are also inhibited. In null mutants of the flg22 receptor, FLS2, flg22 regulation of stomatal opening, K+ (in) currents, and K+ (out) currents is eliminated. flg22 also fails to elicit these responses in null mutants of the sole canonical G-protein alpha subunit, GPA1. The bacterial toxin, coronatine, produced by several pathogenic strains of Pseudomonas syringae, reverses the inhibitory effects of flg22 on both K+ (in) currents and stomatal opening, indicating interplay between plant and pathogen in the regulation of plant ion channels. Thus, the PAMP-triggered stomatal response involves K+ channel regulation, and this regulation is dependent on signaling via cognate PAMP receptors and a heterotrimeric G-protein. These new findings provide insights into the largely elusive signaling process underlying PTI-associated guard cell responses.