title: Nicotiana benthamiana MAPK-WRKY pathway confers resistance to a necrotrophic pathogen Botrytis cinerea.
abstract: MEK2-SIPK/WIPK cascade, a Nicotiana benthamiana mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade, is an essential signaling pathway for plant immunity and involved in hypersensitive response (HR) accompanied by cell death. WRKY transcription factors as substrates of SIPK and WIPK have been isolated and implicated in HR cell death. Here, we show virus-induced gene silencing of WRKY genes compromised constitutively active MEK2-triggered cell death in N. benthamiana leaves. In general, HR cell death enhances susceptibility to necrotrophic pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea. However, the WRKY gene silencing elevated susceptibility to B. cinerea. These findings suggest that downstream WRKYs of MEK2-SIPK/WIPK cascade are required for cell death-dependent and -independent immunities in N. benthamiana.
authors.affiliation: a Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University , Nagoya , Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.affiliation: b RIKEN CSRS, Suehiro-cho , Tsurumi , Yokohama , Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishihama
authors.affiliation: a Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University , Nagoya , Japan.
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.affiliation: a Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University , Nagoya , Japan.
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
authors.affiliation: a Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University , Nagoya , Japan.
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
mesh_terms: D020171:Botrytis / Q000502:physiology*; D016923:Cell Death; D060467:Disease Resistance / Q000276:immunology*; D020868:Gene Silencing; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: Botrytis cinerea; HR; MAPK; MAPKK; Nicotiana benthamiana; RBOH; WRKY; cell death; necrotroph