Ready to fire: Secretion in plant immunity
Hye Sup Yun1, Ralph Panstruga, Paul Schulze-Lefert
1Max-Planck-Institut für Züchtungsforschung; Department of Plant Microbe Interactions; Köln, Germany.
Plant Signaling & Behavior
|August 26, 2009
Summary
Plant immune responses utilize soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complexes, including PEN1, SNAP33, and VAMP721/722, at pathogen entry sites. These SNARE complexes have dual roles in both disease resistance and plant development.
Area of Science:
- Plant immunity
- Cell biology
- Molecular plant pathology
Background:
- Cell-autonomous immunity is crucial for organism survival, relying on pattern recognition receptors to distinguish self from non-self.
- Vesicle trafficking and exocytosis are increasingly recognized for their role in plant innate immunity, similar to mammalian T cell responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the function of specific soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complexes in plant immune responses.
- To investigate the dual roles of these SNARE complexes in plant disease resistance and development.
Main Methods:
- Investigated the localization and function of PEN1, SNAP33, and VAMP721/722 SNARE complexes at pathogen entry sites.
- Analyzed the overlapping functions of these SNARE complexes in both immune signaling and developmental processes.
Main Results:
- Identified ternary SNARE complexes (PEN1, SNAP33, VAMP721/722) as key players at the cell periphery during pathogen attack.
- Demonstrated that these SNARE complexes are involved in the execution of plant innate immunity.
- Uncovered unexpected overlapping functions of these SNARE complexes in disease resistance and plant development.
Conclusions:
- The PEN1-SNAP33-VAMP721/722 SNARE complex mediates essential secretory pathway functions at pathogen entry sites.
- Tight regulation of SNARE complex formation is necessary to prevent unintended delivery of toxic substances and maintain cellular homeostasis.
- These findings highlight the intricate connection between plant immunity and developmental pathways.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Cell Signaling in Plants
Plant cells communicate to coordinate their cycle of growth, flowering and fruiting, and activities in roots, shoots, and leaves in response to the changing environmental conditions. Plant signaling is distinct from animal signaling. Plants primarily utilize enzyme-linked receptors, whereas the largest class of cell-surface receptors in animals are G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Unlike animals, receptor tyrosine kinases are rare in plants. Instead, plants have a diverse class of...
02:26Defenses Against Pathogens and Herbivores
Plants present a rich source of nutrients for many organisms, making it a target for herbivores and infectious agents. Plants, though lacking a proper immune system, have developed an array of constitutive and inducible defenses to fend off these attacks.
02:43Plant Cell Wall
The plant cell wall gives plant cells shape, support, and protection. As a cell matures, its cell wall specializes according to the cell type. For example, the parenchyma cells of leaves possess only a thin, primary cell wall.Collenchyma and sclerenchyma cells, on the other hand, mainly occur in the outer layers of a plant's stems and leaves. These cells provide the plant with strength and support by either partially thickening their primary cell wall (i.e., collenchyma), or depositing a...
01:56Plant Hormones
Plant hormones—or phytohormones—are chemical molecules that modulate one or more physiological processes of a plant. In animals, hormones are often produced in specific glands and circulated via the circulatory system. However, plants lack hormone-producing glands.
01:56Plant Hormones
Plant hormones—or phytohormones—are chemical molecules that modulate one or more physiological processes of a plant. In animals, hormones are often produced in specific glands and circulated via the circulatory system. However, plants lack hormone-producing glands.
02:22Introduction to Plant Diversity
From Water to Land