The Arabidopsis F-Box Protein CORONATINE INSENSITIVE1 Is Stabilized by SCFCOI1 and Degraded via the 26S Proteasome Pathway

Jasmonate regulates critical aspects of plant development and defense. The F-box protein CORONATINE INSENSITIVE1 (COI1) functions as a jasmonate receptor and forms Skp1/Cullin1/F-box protein COI1 (SCF^COI1) complexes with Arabidopsis thaliana Cullin1 and Arabidopsis Skp1-like1 (ASK1) to recruit its substrate jasmonate ZIM-domain proteins for ubiquitination and degradation. Here, we reveal a mechanism regulating COI1 protein levels in Arabidopsis. Genetic and biochemical analysis and in vitro degradation assays demonstrated that the COI1 protein was initially stabilized by interacting with ASK1 and further secured by assembly into SCF^COI1 complexes, suggesting a function for SCF^COI1 in the stabilization of COI1 in Arabidopsis. Furthermore, we show that dissociated COI1 is degraded through the 26S proteasome pathway, and we identified the 297th Lys residue as an active ubiquitination site in COI1. Our data suggest that the COI1 protein is strictly regulated by a dynamic balance of SCF^COI1-mediated stabilization and 26S proteasome–mediated degradation and thus maintained at a protein level essential for proper biological functions in Arabidopsis development and defense responses.     

Characterization of 12-oxo-phytodienoic Acid reductase in corn: the jasmonic Acid pathway

12-Oxo-phytodienoic acid reductase, an enzyme of the biosynthetic pathway that converts linolenic acid to jasmonic acid, has been characterized from the kernel and seedlings of corn (Zea mays L.). The molecular weight of the enzyme, estimated by gel filtration, was 54,000. Optimum enzyme activity was observed over a broad pH range, from pH 6.8 to 9.0. The enzyme had a K_m of 190 micromolar for its substrate, 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid. The preferred reductant was NADPH, for which the enzyme exhibited a K_m of 13 micromolar, compared with 4.2 millimolar for NADH. Reductase activity was low in the corn kernel but increased five-fold by the fifth day after germination and then gradually declined.     

Biosynthesis of 14,15-dehydro-12-oxo-phytodienoic acid and related cyclopentenones via the phytoprostane D(1) pathway

A novel group of cyclopentenone prostaglandin-like compounds, deoxy phytoprostanes J(1), together with their precursors, phytoprostanes D(1), were identified in tobacco, tomato and Arabidopsis. Previously, it was thought that 14,15-dehydro-12-oxo-phytodienoic acid, a member of the deoxy phytoprostanes J(1) family, is derived from either 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid or diketols via the allene oxide synthase pathway. Results suggest that 14,15-dehydro-12-oxo-phytodienoic acid as well as structurally related cyclopentenones of the chromomoric acid family are synthesized via the phytoprostane D(1) pathway in planta. Notably, 14,15-dehydro-12-oxo-phytodienoic acid is more abundant than 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid in all three species so far analyzed.     

Long-term suppression of tumor growth by TNF requires a Stat1- and IFN regulatory factor 1-dependent IFN-gamma pathway but not IL-12 or IL-18

Tumor cells engineered to secrete TNF were used as a model to examine how persistently high local concentrations of TNF suppress tumor growth. TNF secretion had no effect on tumor cell proliferation in vitro but caused a very impressive growth arrest in vivo that was dependent on both bone marrow- and non-bone marrow-derived host cells expressing TNFR. Suppression also required an endogenous IFN-gamma pathway consisting minimally of IFN-gamma, IFN-gamma receptor, Stat1, and IFN regulatory factor 1 since mice with targeted disruption of any of the four genes failed to arrest tumor growth. The ability of these mice to suppress tumor growth was restored after they were reconstituted with bone marrow cells from Wt mice. Interestingly, mice lacking the major IFN-gamma-inducing cytokines IL-12 and IL-18 or T cells, B cells, and the majority of NK cells that are potential sources of IFN-gamma nevertheless inhibited tumor development. Moreover, multiple lines of evidence indicated that local release of IFN-gamma was not required to inhibit tumor formation. These results strongly suggest a novel function for the endogenous IFN-gamma pathway that without measurable IFN-gamma production or activity affects the ability of TNF to suppress tumor development.     

The arabidopsis DELAYED DEHISCENCE1 gene encodes an enzyme in the jasmonic acid synthesis pathway

delayed dehiscence1 is an Arabidopsis T-DNA mutant in which anthers release pollen grains too late for pollination to occur. The delayed dehiscence1 defect is caused by a delay in the stomium degeneration program. The gene disrupted in delayed dehiscence1 encodes 12-oxophytodienoate reductase, an enzyme in the jasmonic acid biosynthesis pathway. We rescued the mutant phenotype by exogenous application of jasmonic acid and obtained seed set from previously male-sterile plants. In situ hybridization studies showed that during the early stages of floral development, DELAYED DEHISCENCE1 mRNA accumulated within all floral organs. Later, DELAYED DEHISCENCE1 mRNA accumulated specifically within the pistil, petals, and stamen filaments. DELAYED DEHISCENCE1 mRNA was not detected in the stomium and septum cells of the anther that are involved in pollen release. The T-DNA insertion in delayed dehiscence1 eliminated both DELAYED DEHISCENCE1 mRNA accumulation and 12-oxophytodienoate reductase activity. These experiments suggest that jasmonic acid signaling plays a role in controlling the time of anther dehiscence within the flower.     

Ozone-induced expression of the Arabidopsis FAD7 gene requires salicylic acid, but not NPR1 and SID2

The Arabidopsis FAD7 gene encodes a plastid omega-3 fatty acid desaturase that catalyzes the desaturation of dienoic fatty acids to trienoic fatty acids in chloroplast membrane lipids. The expression of FAD7 was rapidly and locally induced by ozone exposure, which causes oxidative responses equivalent to pathogen-induced hypersensitive responses and subsequently activates various defense-related genes. This induction was reduced in salicylic acid (SA)-deficient NahG plants expressing SA hydroxylase, but was unaffected in etr1 and jar1 mutants, which are insensitive to ethylene and jasmonic acid (JA), respectively. The SA dependence of the FAD7 induction was confirmed by the exogenous application of SA. SA-induced expression of FAD7 in the npr1 mutant which is defective in an SA signaling pathway occurred to the same extent as in the wild type. Furthermore, in the sid2 mutant which lacks an enzyme required for SA biosynthesis, the expression of FAD7 was induced by ozone exposure. These results suggest that the ozone-induced expression of FAD7 gene requires SA, but not ethylene, JA, NPR1 and SID2.     

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria systemically protect Arabidopsis thaliana against Cucumber mosaic virus by a salicylic acid and NPR1-independent and jasmonic acid-dependent signaling pathway

Arabidopsis thaliana ecotype Columbia plants (Col-0) treated with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) Serattia marcescens strain 90-166 and Bacillus pumilus strain SE34 had significantly reduced symptom severity by Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). In some cases, CMV accumulation was also significantly reduced in systemically infected leaves. The signal transduction pathway(s) associated with induced resistance against CMV by strain 90-166 was determined using mutant strains and transgenic and mutant Arabidopsis lines. NahG plants treated with strains 90-166 and SE34 had reduced symptom severity indicating that the resistance did not require salicylic acid (SA). Strain 90-166 naturally produces SA under iron-limited conditions. Col-0 and NahG plants treated with the SA-deficient mutant, 90-166-1441, had significantly reduced CMV symptom severity with reduced virus accumulation in Col-0 plants. Another PGPR mutant, 90-166-2882, caused reduced disease severity in Col-0 and NahG plants. In a time course study, strain 90-166 reduced virus accumulation at 7 but not at 14 and 21 days post-inoculation (dpi) on the non-inoculated leaves of Col-0 plants. NahG and npr1-1 plants treated with strain 90-166 had reduced amounts of virus at 7 and 14 dpi but not at 21 dpi. In contrast, no decrease in CMV accumulation occurred in strain 90-166-treated fad3-2 fad7-2 fad8 plants. These data indicate that the protection of Arabidopsis against CMV by strain 90-166 follows a signaling pathway for virus protection that is independent of SA and NPR1, but dependent on jasmonic acid.     

Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate functions as a physiological regulator by modulating the jasmonic acid pathway

Flavonoids, a class of plant polyphenols derived from plant secondary metabolism, play important roles in plant development and have beneficial effects on human health. Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant polyphenol, and its molecular and biochemical mechanism have been followed with interest. The shared signaling heritage or convergence of organisms has allowed us to extend this research into the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, we showed that EGCG could promote jasmonic acid (JA) signaling in A. thaliana. EGCG not only inhibited seed germination but also elevated the resistance to necrotrophic Botrytis cinerea, partly by altering the relative strength of JA signaling. Accordingly, JA marker gene induction, seed germination inhibition and the increased resistance to B. cinerea were attenuated in the JA‐insensitive coi1‐2 mutant. The coi1‐2 mutant was partially insensitive to the treatment of EGCG, further implicating the function of EGCG in JA signaling and/or perception. Our results indicate that EGCG, a member of the flavonoid class of polyphenols, affects signal processing in seed development and disease susceptibility via modulation of JA signaling.     

A novel rice PR10 protein, RSOsPR10, specifically induced in roots by biotic and abiotic stresses, possibly via the jasmonic acid signaling pathway

Plant roots have important roles not only in absorption of water and nutrients, but also in stress tolerance such as desiccation, salt, and low temperature. We have investigated stress-response proteins from rice roots using 2-dimensional polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and found a rice protein, RO-292, which was induced specifically in roots when 2-week-old rice seedlings were subjected to salt and drought stress. The full-length RO-292 cDNA was cloned, and was determined to encode a protein of 160 amino acid residues (16.9 kDa, pI 4.74). The deduced amino acid sequence showed high similarity to known rice PR10 proteins, OsPR10a/PBZ1 and OsPR10b. RO-292 mRNA accumulated rapidly upon drought, NaCl, jasmonic acid and probenazole, but not by exposure to low temperature or by abscisic acid and salicylic acid. The RO-292 gene was also up-regulated by infection with rice blast fungus. Interestingly, induction was observed almost exclusively in roots, thus we named the gene RSOsPR10 (root specific rice PR10). The present results indicate that RSOsPR10 is a novel rice PR10 protein, which is rapidly induced in roots by salt, drought stresses and blast fungus infection possibly through activation of the jasmonic acid signaling pathway, but not the abscisic acid and salicylic acid signaling pathway.     

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide induces expression of ABCA1 but not ABCG1 via an LXR-independent pathway

Two ATP-binding cassette transporter proteins, ABCA1 and ABCG1, may mediate an active efflux of cellular cholesterol and phospholipids. They are ubiquitously expressed and are subject to regulation by cholesterol loading or by treatment with agents that activate the nuclear hormone receptor LXR. Earlier studies in both primates and non-primates reported that treatment with endotoxin (bacterial lipopolysaccharide, LPS) reduces plasma levels of HDL cholesterol. To determine if such HDL reduction correlates with a change in ABCA1 or ABCG1 expression, their expressions were measured in THP-1 monocytes and mice treated with LPS. LPS treatment leads to a rapid, dose-dependent increase of ABCA1 but not ABCG1 mRNA expression. Analysis of mouse livers showed that LPS treatment decreases expression of CYP7A, another target gene of LXR. When THP-1 cells were transfected with the ABCA1 promoter construct (-928 to +101 bp), promoter activity was significantly increased by treatment of 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol but not by LPS. Together, these studies show that LPS regulates ABCA1 expression through an LXR-independent mechanism. Further studies showed that treatment with Rhodobacter sphaeroiders LPS, an LPS antagonist, or PD169316, a specific p38 MAP kinase inhibitor, prevented the induction of ABCA1 by LPS. Therefore, this suggests that both transport of LPS from the plasma membrane to an intracellular site and activation of p38 MAP kinase are involved in the LPS-mediated induction of ABCA1.