Initiation of RPS2-specified disease resistance in Arabidopsis is coupled to the AvrRpt2-directed elimination of RIN4

Cell. 2003 Feb 7;112(3):369-77. doi: 10.1016/s0092-8674(03)00036-9.

Abstract

Plants have evolved a sophisticated innate immune system to recognize invading pathogens and to induce a set of host defense mechanisms resulting in disease resistance. Pathogen recognition is often mediated by plant disease resistance (R) proteins that respond specifically to one or a few pathogen-derived molecules. This specificity has led to suggestions of a receptor-ligand mode of R protein function. Delivery of the bacterial effector protein AvrRpt2 by Pseudomonas syringae specifically induces disease resistance in Arabidopsis plants expressing the RPS2 R protein. We demonstrate that RPS2 physically interacts with Arabidopsis RIN4 and that AvrRpt2 causes the elimination of RIN4 during activation of the RPS2 pathway. AvrRpt2-mediated RIN4 elimination also occurs in the rps2, ndr1, and Atrar1 mutant backgrounds, demonstrating that this activity can be achieved independent of an RPS2-mediated signaling pathway. Therefore, we suggest that RPS2 initiates signaling based upon perception of RIN4 disappearance rather than direct recognition of AvrRpt2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / immunology*
  • Arabidopsis / microbiology
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / immunology*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Infections / genetics
  • Bacterial Infections / immunology*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / immunology*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / immunology
  • Immunity, Innate / genetics
  • Immunity, Innate / immunology*
  • Immunologic Surveillance / genetics
  • Immunologic Surveillance / immunology*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / immunology
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / immunology

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • RIN4 protein, Arabidopsis
  • RPS2 protein, Arabidopsis
  • avrRpt2 protein, Pseudomonas syringae