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

Michael J. Axtell, Brian J. Staskawicz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

672 Scopus citations

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)369-377
Number of pages9
JournalCell
Volume112
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 7 2003

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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