Plant protein links damage alarm to disease defense system
Yang M, Kim D, Song JH, Jensen AM, Tanaka K
Plant Signaling
The next time blight or mildew threatens your tomatoes, this discovery points toward breeding or treatments that help plants sound a louder, faster internal alarm against attackers.
Plants have two separate warning systems: one that senses when cells are physically damaged, and another that detects infection and triggers the hormone salicylic acid, the same compound in aspirin. Researchers discovered a protein called PERK15 that acts as a bridge between these two systems, physically connecting to the damage sensor and getting switched on by it, while also being boosted by the infection-fighting hormone. Plants missing this protein get sick more easily, while plants with extra copies go into overdrive defense mode, showing that this single molecular link helps plants fight off disease more effectively.
Key Findings
PERK15 physically interacts with the eATP receptor P2K1, and this interaction strengthens when plants are treated with extracellular ATP
P2K1 phosphorylates a Ser/Thr cluster in PERK15's kinase domain, which is required to activate PERK15
perk15 mutant plants show weaker eATP responses and reduced pathogen resistance, while PERK15 overexpression causes autoimmunity and boosts levels of the SA receptor NPR1
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists found a plant protein that acts like a wire connecting two separate alarm systems, letting plants mount a stronger immune response when they sense both cell damage and infection signals at once.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
A receptor-like kinase pair integrates extracellular ATP and salicylic acid signaling to activate plant immunity.
Extracellular Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (eATP) is a damage-associated molecular pattern in both plants and animals, playing an important role as a danger signal in response to various environmental...
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