Ultraviolet-B radiation co-opts defense signaling pathways.
Plants in the field exposed to ambient solar ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation (280-320 nm) often show an increased resistance to herbivorous insects compared with control plants grown under filters that exclude the UV-B component of solar radiation. This corresponds with a significant overlap in gene expression between the UV-B and the wounding/herbivory response. Furthermore, wound-responsive signaling components such as mitogen-activated protein kinases are activated by UV-B. A mechanistic explanation for these overlaps might be that UV-B co-opts cell surface receptors for defense signals such as systemin and oligosaccharide elicitors in a ligand-independent manner.
Stratmann
Johannes
J
University of South Carolina, Department of Biological Sciences, Coker Life Science Building, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. johstrat@biol.sc.edu
D000818:Animals; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000528:radiation effects; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000528:radiation effects; D007313:Insecta / Q000254:growth & development; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000469:parasitology; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases