title: A cotton Raf-like MAP3K gene, GhMAP3K40, mediates reduced tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress in Nicotiana benthamiana by negatively regulating growth and development.
abstract: Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades mediate various responses in plants. As the top component, MAP3Ks deserve more attention; however, little is known about the role of MAP3Ks, especially in cotton, a worldwide economic crop. In this study, a gene encoding a putative Raf-like MAP3K, GhMAP3K40, was isolated. GhMAP3K40 expression was induced by stress and multiple signal molecules. The plants overexpressing GhMAP3K40 had an enhanced tolerance to drought and salt stress at the germination stage. However, at the seedling stage, the transgenic plants suffered more severe damage after drought, exposure to pathogens and oxidative stress. The defence-related genes and the antioxidant system were activated in transgenic palnts, suggesting that GhMAP3K40 positively regulate the defence response. The transgenic plants were less able to prevent pathogenic invasion, which was due to defects in the cell structure of the leaves. The root system of the control plants were stronger compared with the transgenic plants. These results indicated a negative role of GhMAP3K40 in growth and development and GhMAP3K40 possibly caused the defects by down-regulating the lignin biosynthesis. Overall, these results suggest that GhMAP3K40 may positively regulate defence response but cause reduced tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress by negatively regulating growth and development.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaobo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Haihong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Dongdong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: xqguo@sdau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xingqi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000066630:Ectopic Gene Expression; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D003368:Gossypium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: Defence response; Expression pattern; GhMAP3K40; Growth and development; Interacting protein; Raf-like MAP3K