title: BWMK1, a rice mitogen-activated protein kinase, locates in the nucleus and mediates pathogenesis-related gene expression by activation of a transcription factor.
abstract: Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are known to transduce plant defense signals, but the downstream components of the MAPK have as yet not been elucidated. Here, we report an MAPK from rice (Oryza sativa), BWMK1, and a transcription factor, OsEREBP1, phosphorylated by the kinase. The MAPK carries a TDY phosphorylation motif instead of the more common TEY motif in its kinase domain and has an unusually extended C-terminal domain that is essential to its kinase activity and translocation to the nucleus. The MAPK phosphorylates OsEREBP1 that binds to the GCC box element (AGCCGCC) of the several basic pathogenesis-related gene promoters, which in turn enhances DNA-binding activity of the factor to the cis element in vitro. Transient co-expression of the BWMK1 and OsEREBP1 in Arabidopsis protoplasts elevates the expression of the beta-glucuronidase reporter gene driven by the GCC box element. Furthermore, transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants overexpressing BWMK1 expressed many pathogenesis-related genes at higher levels than wild-type plants with an enhanced resistance to pathogens. These findings suggest that MAPKs contribute to plant defense signal transduction by phosphorylating one or more transcription factors.
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Program), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Hwa
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Byeong Cheol
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Jong Kyong
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Cha Young
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min Chul
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ihn Hyoung
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chan Young
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jong Cheol
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byung Ouk
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seong Cheol
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: Hae Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Woo Sik
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Chae Oh
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Sang Yeol
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Moo Je
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D016923:Cell Death; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000201:enzymology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012275:Oryza / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011523:Protoplasts / Q000378:metabolism; D020218:Response Elements / Q000235:genetics; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C403286:MPK12 protein, Oryza sativa; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases