Functional analysis of NtMPK2 uncovers its positive role in response to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 in tobacco.
Mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades are highly conserved signaling modules downstream of receptors/sensors and play pivotal roles in signaling plant defense against pathogen attack. Extensive studies on Arabidopsis MPK4 have implicated that the MAP kinase is involved in multilayered plant defense pathways. In this study, we identified tobacco NtMPK2 as an ortholog of AtMPK4. Transgenic tobacco overexpressing NtMPK2 markedly enhances resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pst DC3000) virulent and avirulent strains. Transcriptome analysis of NtMPK2-dependent genes shows that possibly the basal resistance system is activated by NtMPK2 overexpression. In addition to NtMPK2-mediated resistance, multiple pathways are involved in response to the avirulent bacteria based on analysis of Pst-responding genes, including SA and ET pathways. Notably, it is possible that biosynthesis of antibacterial compounds is responsible for inhibition of Pst DC3000 avirulent strain when programmed cell death processes in the host. Our results uncover that NtMPK2 positively regulate tobacco defense response to Pst DC3000 and improve our understanding of plant molecular defense mechanism.
State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.|FAFU and UIUC-SIB Joint Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, Fujian Province, China.
Xingtan
X
Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
Genhong
G
Wang
State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
Junping
J
Gao
State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
Mengyun
M
Nie
State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
Wenshan
W
Liu
State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China. xiaqy@swu.edu.cn.
Qingyou
Q
Xia
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D057865:Plant Immunity; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D044224:Pseudomonas syringae / Q000502:physiology*; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; C436292:AtMPK4 protein, Arabidopsis; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
NtMPK2; Plant defense response; Pst DC3000; RNA-seq