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Updated: Jun 13, 2025

Imaging Spatial Reorganization of a MAPK Signaling Pathway Using the Tobacco Transient Expression System
Published on: March 20, 2016
Comparisons of two receptor-MAPK pathways in a single cell-type reveal mechanisms of signalling specificity
Yan Ma1,2, Isabelle Flückiger3, Jade Nicolet3
1Department of Plant Molecular Biology, Biophore, UNIL-Sorge, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. Yan.ma@gmi.oeaw.ac.at.
Abstract:
Cells harbour numerous receptor pathways to respond to diverse stimuli, yet often share common downstream signalling components. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MPK) cascades are an example of such common hubs in eukaryotes. How such common hubs faithfully transduce distinct signals within the same cell-type is insufficiently understood, yet of fundamental importance for signal integration and processing in plants. We engineered a unique genetic background allowing direct comparisons of a developmental and an immunity pathway in one cell-type, the Arabidopsis root endodermis. We demonstrate that the two pathways maintain distinct functional and transcriptional outputs despite common MPK activity patterns. Nevertheless, activation of different MPK kinases and MPK classes led to distinct functional readouts, matching observed pathway-specific readouts. On the basis of our comprehensive analysis of core MPK signalling elements, we propose that combinatorial activation within the MPK cascade determines the differential regulation of an endodermal master transcription factor, MYB36, that drives pathway-specific gene activation.
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