Retrograde signaling by the plastidial metabolite MEcPP regulates expression of nuclear stress-response genes.
Plastid-derived signals are known to coordinate expression of nuclear genes encoding plastid-localized proteins in a process termed retrograde signaling. To date, the identity of retrograde-signaling molecules has remained elusive. Here, we show that methylerythritol cyclodiphosphate (MEcPP), a precursor of isoprenoids produced by the plastidial methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway, elicits the expression of selected stress-responsive nuclear-encoded plastidial proteins. Genetic and pharmacological manipulations of the individual MEP pathway metabolite levels demonstrate the high specificity of MEcPP as an inducer of these targeted stress-responsive genes. We further demonstrate that abiotic stresses elevate MEcPP levels, eliciting the expression of the aforementioned genes. We propose that the MEP pathway, in addition to producing isoprenoids, functions as a stress sensor and a coordinator of expression of targeted stress-responsive nuclear genes via modulation of the levels of MEcPP, a specific and critical retrograde-signaling metabolite.
Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Yanmei
Y
Xiao
Tatyana
T
Savchenko
Edward E K
EE
Baidoo
Wassim E
WE
Chehab
Daniel M
DM
Hayden
Vladimir
V
Tolstikov
Jason A
JA
Corwin
Daniel J
DJ
Kliebenstein
Jay D
JD
Keasling
Katayoon
K
Dehesh
D000446:Aldehyde-Lyases / Q000235:genetics; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics; D004798:Enzymes / Q000235:genetics; D004896:Erythritol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D018087:Plastids / Q000378:metabolism; D020156:Salicylic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013312:Stress, Physiological
D004798:Enzymes; C421242:hydroxymethylbutenyl 4-diphosphate synthase; C443879:methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D000446:Aldehyde-Lyases; C054540:hydroperoxide lyase; D020156:Salicylic Acid; D004896:Erythritol