Cullin RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligases SCFTIR1/AFB1-5 and their ubiquitylation targets, AUX/IAAs, sense auxin concentrations in the nucleus. TIR1 binds a surface-exposed degron in AUX/IAAs promoting their ubiquitylation and rapid auxin-regulated proteasomal degradation. Here, we resolved TIR1·auxin·IAA7 and TIR1·auxin·IAA12 complex topology, and show that flexible intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) in the degron′s vicinity, cooperatively position AUX/IAAs on TIR1. The AUX/IAA PB1 interaction domain also assists in non-native contacts, affecting AUX/IAA dynamic interaction states. Our results establish a role for IDRs in modulating auxin receptor assemblies. By securing AUX/IAAs on two opposite surfaces of TIR1, IDR diversity supports locally tailored positioning for targeted ubiquitylation and might provide conformational flexibility for adopting a multiplicity of functional states. We postulate IDRs in distinct members of the AUX/IAA family to be an adaptive signature for protein interaction and initiation region for proteasome recruitment.

Juveniles of the leaf beetle Phaedon cochleariae synthesize iridoid via the mevalonate pathway to repel predators. The normal terpenoid biosynthesis is integrated into the dedicated defensive pathway by the ω-hydroxylation of geraniol to 8-hydroxygeraniol. Here we identify and characterize the geraniol 8-hydroxylase as a P450 monooxygenase using integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analyses. In the fat body, 73 individual cytochrome P450s were identified. The double stranded RNA (dsRNA)-mediated knock down of CYP6BH5 led to a significant reduction of 8-hydroxygeraniol-glucoside in the hemolymph and, later, of the chrysomelidial in the defensive secretion. Heterologously expressed CYP6BH5 converted geraniol to 8-hydroxygeraniol. In addition to geraniol, CYP6BH5 also catalyzes other monoterpenols, such as nerol and citronellol, into the corresponding α, ω-dihydroxy compounds.

Fungal small RNAs (sRNAs) hijack the plant RNA silencing pathway to manipulate host gene expression, named cross-kingdom RNA interference (ckRNAi). It is currently unknown how conserved and significant ckRNAi is for microbial virulence. Here, we found for the first time that sRNAs of a pathogen representing the oomycete kingdom invade the host plant’s Argonaute (AGO)/RNA-induced silencing complex. To demonstrate the functionality of the plant-invading oomycete Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis sRNAs (HpasRNAs), we designed a novel CRISPR endoribonuclease Csy4/GUS repressor reporter to visualize in situ pathogen-induced target suppression in Arabidopsis thaliana host plant. By using 5’ RACE-PCR we demonstrated HpasRNAs-directed cleavage of plant mRNAs. The significant role of HpasRNAs together with AtAGO1 in virulence was demonstrated by plant atago1 mutants and by transgenic Arabidopsis expressing a target mimic to block HpasRNAs, that both exhibited enhanced resistance. Individual HpasRNA plant targets contributed to host immunity, as Arabidopsis gene knockout or HpasRNA-resistant gene versions exhibited quantitative enhanced or reduced susceptibility, respectively. Together with previous reports, we found that ckRNAi is conserved among oomycete and fungal pathogens.

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient taken up by organisms in the form of inorganic phosphate (Pi). Eukaryotes have evolved sophisticated Pi sensing and signalling cascades, enabling them to maintain cellular Pi concentrations. Pi homeostasis is regulated by inositol pyrophosphate signalling molecules (PP-InsPs), which are sensed by SPX-domain containing proteins. In plants, PP-InsP bound SPX receptors inactivate Myb coiled-coil (MYB-CC) Pi starvation response transcription factors (PHRs) by an unknown mechanism. Here we report that a InsP8 – SPX complex targets the plant-unique CC domain of PHRs. Crystal structures of the CC domain reveal an unusual four-stranded anti-parallel arrangement. Interface mutations in the CC domain yield monomeric PHR1, which is no longer able to bind DNA with high affinity. Mutation of conserved basic residues located at the surface of the CC domain disrupt interaction with the SPX receptor in vitro and in planta, resulting in constitutive Pi starvation responses. Together, our findings suggest that InsP8 regulates plant Pi homeostasis by controlling the oligomeric state and hence the promoter binding capability of PHRs via their SPX receptors.

Directed evolution requires the screening of enzyme libraries in biological matrices. Available assays are mostly substrate or enzyme specific. Chromatographic techniques like LC and GC overcome this limitation, but require long analysis times. The herein developed multiple injections in a single experimental run (MISER) using GC coupled to MS allows the injection of samples every 33 s resulting in 96-well microtiter plate analysis within 50 min. This technique is implementable in any GC-MS system with autosampling. Since the GC-MS is far less prone to ion suppression than LCMS, no chromatographic separation is required. This allows the utilisation of an internal standards and the detection of main and side-product. To prove the feasibility of the system in enzyme screening, two libraries were assessed: i) YfeX library in an E. coli whole cell system for the carbene-transfer reaction on indole revealing the novel axial ligand tryptophan, ii) a library of 616 chimeras of fungal unspecific peroxygenase (UPO) in S. cerevisiae supernatant for hydroxylation of tetralin resulting in novel constructs. The data quality and representation are automatically assessed by a new R-script.

In nature plants are constantly challenged by simultaneous abiotic and biotic stresses, and under conflicting stress scenarios prioritization of stress responses is required for plant survival. Calcium-dependent protein kinase CPK5 is a central hub in local and distal immune signaling, required upstream of hormone salicylic acid (SA)-dependent systemic acquired resistance (SAR). Here we show that CPK5 signaling-dependent immune responses are effectively blocked and pathogen resistance is reverted either upon treatment of plants with abscisic acid (ABA) or in genetic mutant backgrounds lacking PP2C phosphatase activities including abi1-2. Consistently, enhanced immune responses occur upon co-expression of CPK5 kinase with active variants of ABI1 phosphatase ABI1G180S and ABI1G181A. Biochemical studies and mass spectrometry-based phosphosite analysis reveal a direct ABI1 phosphatase-catalyzed de-phosphorylation of CPK5 at T98, a CPK5 auto-phosphorylation site. CPK5T98A, mimicking continuous de-phosphorylation through ABI1, correlates with an increase in kinase activity and CPK5 function in ROS production. CPK5T98D, mimicking a CPK5 auto-phosphorylated status under ABA-induced phosphatase inhibition, leads to inactivated CPK5 causative to an immediate stop of immune responses.Our work reveals an elegant mechanism for plant stress prioritization, where the ABA-dependent phosphatase ABI1, negative regulator of abiotic responses, functions as positive regulator of biotic stress responses, stabilizing CPK5-dependent immune responses in the absence of ABA. This mechanism allows continuous immune signaling during pathogen survey in environmentally non-challenging conditions. Under severe abiotic stress, immune signaling is discontinued via a direct biochemical intersection through a phosphatase/kinase pair recruiting two key regulatory enzymes of these antagonistic signaling pathways.

The calmodulin-binding transcription activator 3 (CAMTA3) is a repressor of immunity-related genes but an activator of cold-induced genes in plants. Post-transcriptional or -translational mechanisms have been proposed to control CAMTA3’s role in the crosstalk between immune and chilling responses. Here, we show that treatment with the bacterial flg22 elicitor, but not cold stress, induces a phospho-mobility shift of CAMTA3 proteins. Correspondingly, CAMTA3 is directly phosphorylated by two flg22-responsive mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), MPK3 and MPK6, which triggers CAMTA3 nuclear export and destabilization. SR1IP1, a substrate E3 ubiquitin ligase adaptor required for pathogen-induced CAMTA3 degradation, is shown here to be likely plasma-membrane-localized and therefore cannot physically interact with the nuclear CAMTA3. Despite the flg22-inducible re-localization of CAMTA3 to the cytoplasm, we failed to detect CAMTA3-SR1IP1 complexes. Hence, the role of SR1IP1 for CAMTA3 degradation needs to be re-evaluated. Surprisingly, flg22 elicitation can still induce nuclear export and phospho-mobility shift of a phospho-null CAMTA3 that cannot be phosphorylated by MAPKs, suggesting the participation of additional flg22-responsive kinase(s). A constitutively-active calcium-dependent protein kinase, CPK5, can stimulate a phospho-mobility shift in CAMTA3 similar to that induced by flg22. Although CPK5 can interact with CAMTA3, it did not directly phosphorylate CAMTA3, suggesting the requirement of a still unidentified downstream kinase or additional components. Overall, at least two flg22-responsive kinase pathways target CAMTA3 to induce degradation that presumably serves to remove CAMTA3 from target promoters and de-repress expression of defence genes.

Molecular networking has become a key method used to visualize and annotate the chemical space in non-targeted mass spectrometry-based experiments. However, distinguishing isomeric compounds and quantitative interpretation are currently limited. Therefore, we created Feature-based Molecular Networking (FBMN) as a new analysis method in the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) infrastructure. FBMN leverages feature detection and alignment tools to enhance quantitative analyses and isomer distinction, including from ion-mobility spectrometry experiments, in molecular networks.

PurposeMultidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs) mediate the hepatobiliary and renal excretion of many drugs and drug conjugates. The positron emission tomography (PET) tracer 6-bromo-7-[11C]methylpurine is rapidly converted in tissues by glutathione-S-transferases into its glutathione conjugate, and has been used to measure the activity of Abcc1 in the brain and the lungs of mice. Aim of this work was to investigate if the activity of MRPs in excretory organs can be measured with 6-bromo-7-[11C]methylpurine.ProceduresWe performed PET scans with 6-bromo-7-[11C]methylpurine in groups of wild-type, Abcc4(−/−) and Abcc1(−/−) mice, with and without pre-treatment with the prototypical MRP inhibitor MK571.Results6-Bromo-7-[11C]methylpurine-derived radioactivity predominantly underwent renal excretion. In blood, MK571 treatment led to a significant increase in the AUC and a decrease in the elimination rate constant of radioactivity (kelimination,blood). In the kidneys, there were significant decreases in the rate constant for radioactivity uptake from the blood (kuptake,kidney), kelimination,kidney, and the rate constant for tubular secretion of radioactivity (kurine). Experiments in Abcc4(−/−) mice indicated that Abcc4 contributed to renal excretion of 6-bromo-7-[11C]methylpurine-derived radioactivity.ConclusionsOur data suggest that 6-bromo-7-[11C]methylpurine may be useful to assess the activity of MRPs in the kidneys as well as in other organs (brain, lungs), although further work is needed to identify the MRP subtypes involved in the disposition of 6-bromo-7-[11C]methylpurine-derived radioactivity.

In nature, plants interact with numerous beneficial or pathogenic soil-borne microorganisms. Plants have developed various defense strategies to expel pathogenic microbes, some of which function soon after pathogen infection. We used Medicago truncatula and its oomycete pathogen Aphanomyces euteiches to elucidate early responses of the infected root. A. euteiches causes root rot disease in legumes and is a limiting factor in legume production. Transcript profiling of seedlings and adult plant roots inoculated with A. euteiches zoospores for 2 h revealed specific upregulation of a gene encoding a putative sesquiterpene synthase (M. truncatula TERPENE SYNTHASE 10 [MtTPS10]) in both developmental stages. MtTPS10 was specifically expressed in roots upon oomycete infection. Heterologous expression of MtTPS10 in yeast led to production of a blend of sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpene alcohols, with NMR identifying a major peak corresponding to himalachol. Moreover, plants carrying a tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) retrotransposon Tnt1 insertion in MtTPS10 lacked the emission of sesquiterpenes upon A. euteiches infection, supporting the assumption that the identified gene encodes a multiproduct sesquiterpene synthase. Mttps10 plants and plants with reduced MtTPS10 transcript levels created by expression of an MtTPS10-artificial microRNA in roots were more susceptible to A. euteiches infection than were the corresponding wild-type plants and roots transformed with the empty vector, respectively. Sesquiterpenes produced by expression of MtTPS10 in yeast also inhibited mycelial growth and A. euteiches zoospore germination. These data suggest that sesquiterpene production in roots by MtTPS10 plays a previously unrecognized role in the defense response of M. truncatula against A. euteiches.