title: MAPK cascades in plant defense signaling.
abstract: The Arabidopsis genome encodes approximately 20 different mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) that are likely to be involved in growth, development and responses to endogenous and environmental cues. Several plant MAPKs are activated by a variety of stress stimuli, including pathogen infection, wounding, temperature, drought, salinity, osmolarity, UV irradiation, ozone and reactive oxygen species. Recent gain-of-function studies show that two tobacco MAPKs induce the expression of defense genes and cause cell death. By contrast, loss-of-function studies of other MAPK pathways revealed negative regulation of disease resistance. This 'push-and-pull' regulation by different MAPK pathways might provide a more precise control of plant defense responses.
authors.affiliation: Dept Biochemistry, University of Missouri-Columbia, 117 Schweitzer Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. zhangsh@missouri.edu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Klessig
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010935:Plant Diseases; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases