Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 23, 2026
04:11
Pattern-Triggered Oxidative Burst and Seedling Growth Inhibition Assays in Arabidopsis thaliana
Published on: May 21, 2019
14.1K
Double-stranded RNAs induce a pattern-triggered immune signaling pathway in plants
Annette Niehl1, Ines Wyrsch1, Thomas Boller1
1Botany, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, CH-4056, Switzerland.
The New Phytologist
|April 1, 2016
Summary
Double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) trigger plant immunity by activating pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) via the SERK1 receptor. This dsRNA-induced defense enhances antiviral resistance, independent of RNA silencing pathways.
Area of Science:
- Plant pathology
- Molecular biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) is a plant defense mechanism activated by conserved microbial patterns.
- While PTI restricts viral infections, the specific viral elicitors and signaling pathways remain unclear.
- Double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) are conserved molecules produced during viral replication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if dsRNAs act as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) in plants.
- To identify the signaling pathways involved in dsRNA-mediated PTI.
- To assess the role of dsRNAs in plant antiviral resistance.
Main Methods:
- Application of in vitro-generated dsRNAs, purified dsRNAs from infected plants, and poly(I:C) to Arabidopsis thaliana.
- Analysis of PTI responses, including dependence on SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE 1 (SERK1) and dicer-like (DCL) proteins.
- Evaluation of antiviral resistance and natural variation in dsRNA sensitivity across Arabidopsis accessions.
Main Results:
- dsRNAs and poly(I:C) induced PTI responses in Arabidopsis dependent on SERK1 but independent of DCL proteins.
- dsRNA treatment conferred SERK1-dependent antiviral resistance.
- Natural variation in dsRNA sensitivity was observed among Arabidopsis wild accessions.
Conclusions:
- dsRNAs function as genuine PAMPs, initiating a SERK1-dependent signaling cascade for PTI.
- dsRNA-mediated PTI operates independently of RNA silencing, suggesting membrane-associated processes.
- dsRNA sensitivity is a potential trait for enhancing antiviral resistance in crops.
Keywords:
ArabidopsisRNA silencingdouble-stranded RNA (dsRNA)natural variationpathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)pattern-triggered immunity (PTI)somatic embryogenesis receptor-like kinasevirusMore Related Videos
11:50Bacterial Leaf Infiltration Assay for Fine Characterization of Plant Defense Responses using the Arabidopsis thaliana-Pseudomonas syringae Pathosystem
Published on: October 1, 2015
23.0K
10:19Screening and Identification of RNA Silencing Suppressors from Secreted Effectors of Plant Pathogens
Published on: February 3, 2020
7.0K
Related Concept Videos
01:25Cell Signaling in Plants
7.0K
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...
7.0K
01:23RNA Interference
28.5K
RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
28.5K
01:23RNA Interference
7.8K
7.8K
02:15Experimental RNAi
8.2K
RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism that inhibits gene expression by suppressing its transcription or activating the RNA degradation process. The mechanism was discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 1998 in plants. Today, it is observed in almost all eukaryotes, including protozoa, flies, nematodes, insects, parasites, and mammals. This precise cellular mechanism of gene silencing has been developed into a technique that provides an efficient way to identify and determine the...
8.2K
02:30siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs
19.0K
Small interfering RNAs, or siRNAs, are short regulatory RNA molecules that can silence genes post-transcriptionally, as well as the transcriptional level in some cases. siRNAs are important for protecting cells against viral infections and silencing transposable genetic elements.
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the...
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the...
19.0K
01:56Riboswitches
10.0K
Riboswitches are non-coding mRNA domains that regulate the transcription and translation of downstream genes without the help of proteins. Riboswitches bind directly to a metabolite and can form unique stem-loop or hairpin structures in response to the amount of the metabolite present. They have two distinct regions – a metabolite-binding aptamer and an expression platform.
The aptamer has high specificity for a particular metabolite which allows riboswitches to specifically regulate...
The aptamer has high specificity for a particular metabolite which allows riboswitches to specifically regulate...
10.0K