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A rationally designed JAZ subtype-selective agonist of jasmonate perception
Yousuke Takaoka1,2, Mana Iwahashi1, Andrea Chini3
1Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan.
Nature Communications
|September 9, 2018
Summary
Researchers designed a novel small molecule that boosts plant defense against pathogens without hindering growth. This JA-Ile agonist selectively targets specific proteins, offering a new strategy for plant protection.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Molecular signaling
- Chemical biology
Background:
- The phytohormone 7-iso-(+)-jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine (JA-Ile) is crucial for plant defense against herbivores and pathogens.
- However, JA-Ile's utility as a defense regulator is limited by its concurrent inhibition of plant growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To rationally design and synthesize a small molecule JA-Ile agonist.
- To achieve upregulation of defense gene expression and enhanced pathogen resistance in Arabidopsis without growth inhibition.
Main Methods:
- Rational design and synthesis of a small molecule agonist.
- Testing the agonist's effect on gene expression and pathogen resistance in Arabidopsis.
- Investigating the molecular mechanism involving COI1, JAZ proteins, and downstream signaling pathways.
Main Results:
- The synthesized agonist upregulates defense gene expression and promotes pathogen resistance in Arabidopsis at non-inhibitory concentrations.
- The agonist selectively stabilizes interactions between COI1 and JAZ9/JAZ10, but not other JAZ isoforms.
- This selective interaction leads to the activation of the JAZ9-EIN3/EIL1-ORA59 signaling pathway.
Conclusions:
- A novel JA-Ile agonist has been developed that enhances plant defense without compromising growth.
- Selective targeting of specific JAZ isoforms by the agonist offers a promising strategy to overcome the growth-defense tradeoff.
- This approach may lead to the development of practical chemical regulators for improved plant resistance.
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