NPK1, and MEKK1-like mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase, regulates innate immunity and development in plants

Hailing Jin, Michael J. Axtell, Douglas Dahlbeck, Obi Ekwenna, Shuqun Zhang, Brian Staskawicz, Barbara Baker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

178 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are rapidly activated upon plant recognition of invading pathogens. Here, we describe the use of virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) to study the role of candidate plant MAP kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK) homologs of human MEKK1 in pathogen-resistance pathways. We demonstrate that silencing expression of a tobacco MAPKKK, Nicotiana Protein Kinase 1 (NPK1), interferes with the function of the disease-resistance genes N, Bs2, and Rx, but does not affect Pto- and Cf4-mediated resistance. Further, NPK1-silenced plants also exhibit reduced cell size, defective cytokinesis, and an overall dwarf phenotype. Our results provide evidence that NPK1 functions in the regulation of N-, Bs2-, and Rx-mediated resistance responses and may play a role in one or more MAPK cascades, regulating multiple cellular processes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)291-297
Number of pages7
JournalDevelopmental Cell
Volume3
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2002

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

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