Journal article
Arabidopsis MAP Kinase 4 regulates gene expression via transcription factor release in the nucleus
Plant and animal perception of microbes through pathogen surveillance proteins leads to MAP kinase signalling and the expression of defence genes. However, little is known about how plant MAP kinases regulate specific gene expression. We report that, in the absence of pathogens, Arabidopsis MAP kinase 4 (MPK4) exists in nuclear complexes with the WRKY33 transcription factor.
This complex depends on the MPK4 substrate MKS1. Challenge with Pseudomonas syringae or flagellin leads to the activation of MPK4 and phosphorylation of MKS1. Subsequently, complexes with MKS1 and WRKY33 are released from MPK4, and WRKY33 targets the promoter of PHYTOALEXIN DEFICIENT3 (PAD3) encoding an enzyme required for the synthesis of antimicrobial camalexin.
Hence, wrky33 mutants are impaired in the accumulation of PAD3 mRNA and camalexin production upon infection. That WRKY33 is an effector of MPK4 is further supported by the suppression of PAD3 expression in mpk4-wrky33 double mutant backgrounds. Our data establish direct links between MPK4 and innate immunity and provide an example of how a plant MAP kinase can regulate gene expression by releasing transcription factors in the nucleus upon activation.
Language: | English |
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Publisher: | Nature Publishing Group |
Year: | 2008 |
Pages: | 2214-2221 |
ISSN: | 14602075 and 02614189 |
Types: | Journal article |
DOI: | 10.1038/emboj.2008.147 |
ORCIDs: | Nielsen, Henrik Bjørn , 0000-0001-7490-4588 and 0000-0002-3035-5991 |
Arabidopsis Arabidopsis Proteins AtMPK4 protein, Arabidopsis Cell Nucleus Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System Gene Expression Regulation, Plant Genes, Plant Indoles MAP kinase MKS1 protein, Arabidopsis Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases Mutation Nuclear Proteins PAD3 protein, Arabidopsis Phosphoproteins Promoter Regions, Genetic Protein Binding Pseudomonas syringae Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction Salicylic Acid Thiazoles Transcription Factors WRKY33 protein, Arabidopsis camalexin defence response target genes transcription factor