jump to searchjump to navigationjump to content

Publications - Stress and Develop Biology

Sort by: Year Type of publication

Displaying results 1 to 10 of 24.

Publications

Haapalainen, M.; Engelhardt, S.; Küfner, I.; Li, C.-M.; Nürnberger, T.; Lee, J.; Romantschuk, M.; Taira, S.; Functional mapping of harpin HrpZ of Pseudomonas syringae reveals the sites responsible for protein oligomerization, lipid interactions and plant defence induction Mol. Plant Pathol. 12, 151-166, (2011) DOI: 10.1111/j.1364-3703.2010.00655.x

Harpin HrpZ is one of the most abundant proteins secreted through the pathogenesis‐associated type III secretion system of the plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. HrpZ shows membrane‐binding and pore‐forming activities in vitro, suggesting that it could be targeted to the host cell plasma membrane. We studied the native molecular forms of HrpZ and found that it forms dimers and higher order oligomers. Lipid binding by HrpZ was tested with 15 different membrane lipids, with HrpZ interacting only with phosphatidic acid. Pore formation by HrpZ in artificial lipid vesicles was found to be dependent on the presence of phosphatidic acid. In addition, HrpZ was able to form pores in vesicles prepared from Arabidopsis thaliana plasma membrane, providing evidence for the suggested target of HrpZ in the host. To map the functions associated with HrpZ, we constructed a comprehensive series of deletions in the hrpZ gene derived from P. syringae pv. phaseolicola, and studied the mutant proteins. We found that oligomerization is mainly mediated by a region near the C‐terminus of the protein, and that the same region is also essential for membrane pore formation. Phosphatidic acid binding seems to be mediated by two regions separate in the primary structure. Tobacco, a nonhost plant, recognizes, as a defence elicitor, a 24‐amino‐acid HrpZ fragment which resides in the region indispensable for the oligomerization and pore formation functions of HrpZ.
Publications

Brock, A. K.; Willmann, R.; Kolb, D.; Grefen, L.; Lajunen, H. M.; Bethke, G.; Lee, J.; Nürnberger, T.; Gust, A. A.; The Arabidopsis Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Phosphatase PP2C5 Affects Seed Germination, Stomatal Aperture, and Abscisic Acid-Inducible Gene Expression Plant Physiol. 153, 1098-1111, (2010) DOI: 10.1104/pp.110.156109

Abscisic acid (ABA) is an important phytohormone regulating various cellular processes in plants, including stomatal opening and seed germination. Although protein phosphorylation via mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) has been suggested to be important in ABA signaling, the corresponding phosphatases are largely unknown. Here, we show that a member of the Protein Phosphatase 2C (PP2C) family in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), PP2C5, is acting as a MAPK phosphatase. The PP2C5 protein colocalizes and directly interacts with stress-induced MPK3, MPK4, and MPK6, predominantly in the nucleus. Importantly, altered PP2C5 levels affect MAPK activation. Whereas Arabidopsis plants depleted of PP2C5 show an enhanced ABA-induced activation of MPK3 and MPK6, ectopic expression of PP2C5 in tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) resulted in the opposite effect, with the two MAPKs salicylic acid-induced protein kinase and wound-induced protein kinase not being activated any longer after ABA treatment. Moreover, depletion of PP2C5, whose gene expression itself is affected by ABA treatment, resulted in altered ABA responses. Loss-of-function mutation in PP2C5 or AP2C1, a close PP2C5 homolog, resulted in an increased stomatal aperture under normal growth conditions and a partial ABA-insensitive phenotype in seed germination that was most prominent in the pp2c5 ap2c1 double mutant line. In addition, the response of ABA-inducible genes such as ABI1, ABI2, RD29A, and Erd10 was reduced in the mutant plants. Thus, we suggest that PP2C5 acts as a MAPK phosphatase that positively regulates seed germination, stomatal closure, and ABA-inducible gene expression.
Publications

Engelhardt, S.; Lee, J.; Gäbler, Y.; Kemmerling, B.; Haapalainen, M.-L.; Li, C.-M.; Wei, Z.; Keller, H.; Joosten, M.; Taira, S.; Nürnberger, T.; Separable roles of the Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola accessory protein HrpZ1 in ion-conducting pore formation and activation of plant immunity Plant J. 57, 706-717, (2009) DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-313X.2008.03723.x

The HrpZ1 gene product from phytopathogenic Pseudomonas syringae is secreted in a type‐III secretion system‐dependent manner during plant infection. The ability of HrpZ1 to form ion‐conducting pores is proposed to contribute to bacterial effector delivery into host cells, or may facilitate the nutrition of bacteria in the apoplast. Furthermore, HrpZ1 is reminiscent of a pathogen‐associated molecular pattern (PAMP) that triggers immunity‐associated responses in a variety of plants. Here, we provide evidence that the ion pore formation and immune activation activities of HrpZ1 have different structure requirements. All HrpZ1 orthologous proteins tested possess pore formation activities, but some of these proteins fail to trigger plant defense‐associated responses. In addition, a C‐terminal fragment of HrpZ1 retains the ability to activate plant immunity, whereas ion pore formation requires intact HrpZ1. Random insertion mutagenesis of HrpZ1 further revealed the C terminus to be important for the PAMP activity of the protein. HrpZ1 binds to plant membranes with high affinity and specificity, suggesting that the activation of plant immunity‐associated responses by HrpZ1 is receptor‐mediated. Our data are consistent with dual roles of HrpZ1 as a virulence factor affecting host membrane integrity, and as a microbial pattern governing the activation of plant immunity during infection.
Publications

Gust, A. A.; Biswas, R.; Lenz, H. D.; Rauhut, T.; Ranf, S.; Kemmerling, B.; Götz, F.; Glawischnig, E.; Lee, J.; Felix, G.; Nürnberger, T.; Bacteria-derived Peptidoglycans Constitute Pathogen-associated Molecular Patterns Triggering Innate Immunity in Arabidopsis J. Biol. Chem. 282, 32338-32348, (2007) DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M704886200

Pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-triggered immunity constitutes the primary plant immune response that has evolved to recognize invariant structures of microbial surfaces. Here we show that Gram-positive bacteria-derived peptidoglycan (PGN) constitutes a novel PAMP of immune responses in Arabidopsis thaliana. Treatment with PGN from Staphylococcus aureus results in the activation of plant responses, such as medium alkalinization, elevation of cytoplasmic calcium concentrations, nitric oxide, and camalexin production and the post-translational induction of MAPK activities. Microarray analysis performed with RNA prepared from PGN-treated Arabidopsis leaves revealed enhanced transcript levels for 236 genes, many of which are also altered upon administration of flagellin. Comparison of cellular responses after treatment with bacteria-derived PGN and structurally related fungal chitin indicated that both PAMPs are perceived via different perception systems. PGN-mediated immune stimulation in Arabidopsis is based upon recognition of the PGN sugar backbone, while muramyl dipeptide, which is inactive in this plant, triggers immunity-associated responses in animals. PGN adds to the list of PAMPs that induce innate immune programs in both plants and animals. However, we propose that PGN perception systems arose independently in both lineages and are the result of convergent evolution.
Publications

Qutob, D.; Kemmerling, B.; Brunner, F.; Küfner, I.; Engelhardt, S.; Gust, A. A.; Luberacki, B.; Seitz, H. U.; Stahl, D.; Rauhut, T.; Glawischnig, E.; Schween, G.; Lacombe, B.; Watanabe, N.; Lam, E.; Schlichting, R.; Scheel, D.; Nau, K.; Dodt, G.; Hubert, D.; Gijzen, M.; Nürnberger, T.; Phytotoxicity and Innate Immune Responses Induced by Nep1-Like Proteins Plant Cell 18, 3721-3744, (2006) DOI: 10.1105/tpc.106.044180

We show that oomycete-derived Nep1 (for necrosis and ethylene-inducing peptide1)–like proteins (NLPs) trigger a comprehensive immune response in Arabidopsis thaliana, comprising posttranslational activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase activity, deposition of callose, production of nitric oxide, reactive oxygen intermediates, ethylene, and the phytoalexin camalexin, as well as cell death. Transcript profiling experiments revealed that NLPs trigger extensive reprogramming of the Arabidopsis transcriptome closely resembling that evoked by bacteria-derived flagellin. NLP-induced cell death is an active, light-dependent process requiring HSP90 but not caspase activity, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, ethylene, or functional SGT1a/SGT1b. Studies on animal, yeast, moss, and plant cells revealed that sensitivity to NLPs is not a general characteristic of phospholipid bilayer systems but appears to be restricted to dicot plants. NLP-induced cell death does not require an intact plant cell wall, and ectopic expression of NLP in dicot plants resulted in cell death only when the protein was delivered to the apoplast. Our findings strongly suggest that NLP-induced necrosis requires interaction with a target site that is unique to the extracytoplasmic side of dicot plant plasma membranes. We propose that NLPs play dual roles in plant pathogen interactions as toxin-like virulence factors and as triggers of plant innate immune responses.
Publications

Racapé, J.; Belbahri, L.; Engelhardt, S.; Lacombe, B.; Lee, J.; Lochman, J.; Marais, A.; Nicole, M.; Nürnberger, T.; Parlange, F.; Puverel, S.; Keller, H.; Ca2+-dependent lipid binding and membrane integration of PopA, a harpin-like elicitor of the hypersensitive response in tobacco Mol. Microbiol. 58, 1406-1420, (2005) DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2004.04910.x

PopA is released by type III secretion from the bacterial plant pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum and triggers the hypersensitive response (HR) in tobacco. The function of PopA remains obscure, mainly because mutants lacking this protein are not altered in their ability to interact with plants. In an attempt to identify the site of PopA activity in plant cells, we generated transgenic tobacco plants expressing the popA gene under the control of an inducible promoter. Immunocytologic analysis revealed that the HR phenotype of these plants correlated with the presence of PopA at the plant plasma membrane. Membrane localization was observed irrespective of whether the protein was designed to accumulate in the cytoplasm or to be secreted by the plant cell, suggesting a general lipid‐binding ability. We found that the protein had a high affinity for sterols and sphingolipids in vitro and that it required Ca2+ for both lipid binding and oligomerization. In addition, the protein was integrated into liposomes and membranes from Xenopus laevis oocytes where it formed ion‐conducting pores. These characteristics suggest that PopA is part of a system that aims to attach the host cell plasma membrane and to allow molecules cross this barrier.
Publications

Li, C.-M.; Haapalainen, M.; Lee, J.; Nürnberger, T.; Romantschuk, M.; Taira, S.; Harpin of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola Harbors a Protein Binding Site Mol. Plant Microbe Interact. 18, 60-66, (2005) DOI: 10.1094/MPMI-18-0060

Harpin HrpZ of plant-pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae elicits a hypersensitive response (HR) in some nonhost plants, but its function in the pathogenesis process is still obscure. HrpZ-interacting proteins were identified by screening a phage-display library of random peptides. HrpZ of the bean pathogen P. syringae pv. Phaseolicola (HrpZPph) shows affinity to peptides with a consensus amino acid motif W(L)ARWLL(G/L). To localize the peptide-binding site, the hrpZPph gene was mutagenized with randomly placed 15-bp insertions, and the mutant proteins were screened for the peptide-binding ability. Mutations that inhibited peptide-binding localized to the central region of hrpZPph, which is separate from the previously determined HR-inducing region. Antiserum raised against one of the hrpZPph-binding peptides recognized small proteins in bean, tomato, parsley, and Arabidopsis thaliana but none in tobacco. On native protein blots, hrpZPph bound to a bean protein with similar pI as the protein recognized by the peptide antiserum. The result suggests a protein-protein interaction between the harpin and a host plant protein, possibly involved in the bacterial pathogenesis.
Publications

Halim, V. A.; Hunger, A.; Macioszek, V.; Landgraf, P.; Nürnberger, T.; Scheel, D.; Rosahl, S.; The oligopeptide elicitor Pep-13 induces salicylic acid-dependent and -independent defense reactions in potato Physiol. Mol. Plant Pathol. 64, 311-318, (2004) DOI: 10.1016/j.pmpp.2004.10.003

The Phytophthora-derived oligopeptide elicitor, Pep-13, originally identified as an inducer of plant defense in the nonhost–pathogen interaction of parsley and Phytophthora sojae, triggers defense responses in potato. In cultured potato cells, Pep-13 treatment results in an oxidative burst and activation of defense genes. Infiltration of Pep-13 into leaves of potato plants induces the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide, defense gene expression and the accumulation of jasmonic and salicylic acids. Derivatives of Pep-13 show similar elicitor activity in parsley and potato, suggesting a receptor-mediated induction of defense response in potato similar to that observed in parsley. However, unlike in parsley, infiltration of Pep-13 into leaves leads to the development of hypersensitive response-like cell death in potato. Interestingly, Pep-13-induced necrosis formation, hydrogen peroxide formation and accumulation of jasmonic acid, but not activation of a subset of defense genes, is dependent on salicylic acid, as shown by infiltration of Pep-13 into leaves of potato plants unable to accumulate salicylic acid. Thus, in a host plant of Phytophthora infestans, Pep-13 is able to elicit salicylic acid-dependent and -independent defense responses.
Publications

Kroj, T.; Rudd, J. J.; Nürnberger, T.; Gäbler, Y.; Lee, J.; Scheel, D.; Mitogen-activated Protein Kinases Play an Essential Role in Oxidative Burst-independent Expression of Pathogenesis-related Genes in Parsley J. Biol. Chem. 278, 2256-2264, (2003) DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M208200200

Plants are continuously exposed to attack by potential phytopathogens. Disease prevention requires pathogen recognition and the induction of a multifaceted defense response. We are studying the non-host disease resistance response of parsley to the oomycete, Phytophthora sojae using a cell culture-based system. Receptor-mediated recognition of P. sojae may be achieved through a thirteen amino acid peptide sequence (Pep-13) present within an abundant cell wall transglutaminase. Following recognition of this elicitor molecule, parsley cells mount a defense response, which includes the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and transcriptional activation of genes encoding pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins or enzymes involved in the synthesis of antimicrobial phytoalexins. Treatment of parsley cells with the NADPH oxidase inhibitor, diphenylene iodonium (DPI), blocked both Pep-13-induced phytoalexin production and the accumulation of transcripts encoding enzymes involved in their synthesis. In contrast, DPI treatment had no effect upon Pep-13-induced PRgene expression, suggesting the existence of an oxidative burst-independent mechanism for the transcriptional activation ofPR genes. The use of specific antibodies enabled the identification of three parsley mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) that are activated within the signal transduction pathway(s) triggered following recognition of Pep-13. Other environmental challenges failed to activate these kinases in parsley cells, suggesting that their activation plays a key role in defense signal transduction. Moreover, by making use of a protoplast co-transfection system overexpressing wild-type and loss-of-function MAPK mutants, we show an essential role for post-translational phosphorylation and activation of MAPKs for oxidative burst-independentPR promoter activation.
Books and chapters

Lee, J.; Nürnberger, T.; Is Pore Formation Activity of HrpZ Required for Defence Activation in Plant Cells? 165-173, (2003) DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-0133-4_18

The HrpZ gene product, harpin, is an export substrate of the type III secretion system of phytopathogenic Pseudomonas syringae. The role of this protein in pathogenesis is largely unknown. We previously determined that HrpZ binds to lipids and can form cation pores in synthetic lipid bilayers. Such pore-forming activity may allow nutrient release during bacterial colonisation of host plants. In addition. HrpZ is known to trigger plant defence responses in a variety of plants, such as tobacco. We have previously also characterised a binding site in tobacco plasma membranes that likely mediates HrpZ-induced defence responses. In order to reconcile these findings, we pose the question as to whether the activation of plant defence responses by HrpZ is mediated through a “classical” receptor perception mode or if plant membrane perturbation through the inherent pore-forming activity of HrpZ may induce defence responses. As defence in parsley cells can be induced both in a receptor-mediated manner or through ionophores these cells served as an ideal system for our analysis. We first performed ligand binding studies to characterise the presence of a binding site/receptor. We further digested HrpZ with endopeptidases and used subfragments of HrpZ to assess the elicitor-active domain of HrpZ. A C-terminal region of HrpZ appears to be sufficient to elicit plant defence responses. A novel assay involving dye-loaded liposomes was developed to validate previous electrophysiological findings on HrpZ-mediated cation pore formation. More importantly, this assay was used to establish if the elicitor-active C-terminal fragment of HrpZ could form pores. Our findings suggest that the structural requirements for ion pore formation and activation of plant defence responses by HrpZ are different. Thus, ion pore formation alone may not explain the activation of plant defence by HrpZ.
IPB Mainnav Search