The PP2C-type phosphatase AP2C1, which negatively regulates MPK4 and MPK6, modulates innate immunity, jasmonic acid, and ethylene levels in Arabidopsis

Schweighofer, Alois; Kazanaviciute, Vaiva; Scheikl, Elisabeth; Teige, Markus; Doczi, Robert; Hirt, Heribert; Schwanninger, Manfred; Kant, Merijn; Schuurink, Robert; Mauch, Felix; Buchala, Antony J.; Cardinale, Francesca; Meskiene, Irute

doi:10.1105/tpc.106.049585

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Journal article

The PP2C-type phosphatase AP2C1, which negatively regulates MPK4 and MPK6, modulates innate immunity, jasmonic acid, and ethylene levels in Arabidopsis

Schweighofer, Alois Max F. Perutz Laboratories of the University of Vienna, Austria
Kazanaviciute, Vaiva Max F. Perutz Laboratories of the University of Vienna, Austria
Scheikl, Elisabeth Max F. Perutz Laboratories of the University of Vienna, Austria
Teige, Markus Max F. Perutz Laboratories of the University of Vienna, Austria
Doczi, Robert Max F. Perutz Laboratories of the University of Vienna, Austria
Hirt, Heribert Max F. Perutz Laboratories of the University of Vienna, Austria
Schwanninger, Manfred Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
Kant, Merijn Department of Plant Physiology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Schuurink, Robert Department of Plant Physiology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Mauch, Felix Département de Biologie, Université de Fribourg, Switzerland
Buchala, Antony J. Département de Biologie, Université de Fribourg, Switzerland
Cardinale, Francesca Dipartimento di Valorizzazione e Protezione delle Risorse Agroforestali, Plant Pathology, University of Turin, Italy -
Meskiene, Irute Max F. Perutz Laboratories of the University of Vienna, Austria

13.07.2007

Published in:

The Plant Cell. - 2007, vol. 19, no. 7, p. 2213-2224

English Wound signaling pathways in plants are mediated by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and stress hormones, such as ethylene and jasmonates. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the transmission of wound signals by MAPKs has been the subject of detailed investigations; however, the involvement of specific phosphatases in wound signaling is not known. Here, we show that AP2C1, an Arabidopsis Ser/Thr phosphatase of type 2C, is a novel stress signal regulator that inactivates the stress-responsive MAPKs MPK4 and MPK6. Mutant ap2c1 plants produce significantly higher amounts of jasmonate upon wounding and are more resistant to phytophagous mites (Tetranychus urticae). Plants with increased AP2C1 levels display lower wound activation of MAPKs, reduced ethylene production, and compromised innate immunity against the necrotrophic pathogen Botrytis cinerea. Our results demonstrate a key role for the AP2C1 phosphatase in regulating stress hormone levels, defense responses, and MAPK activities in Arabidopsis and provide evidence that the activity of AP2C1 might control the plant's response to B. cinerea.

Faculty

Faculté des sciences et de médecine

Department

Département de Biologie

Language