Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026

Imaging Spatial Reorganization of a MAPK Signaling Pathway Using the Tobacco Transient Expression System
Published on: March 20, 2016
A new plant SUMO ligase, MPEL1, synergizes with MAPK16 to regulate resistance against Fusarium pathogens
Xuanjun Feng1,2, Weixiao Zhang2, Huarui Guan2
1State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, China.
Abstract:
SUMOylation is critical for plant growth and defense, and the specific substrate recognition mediated by SUMO ligases dictates the biological processes in which SUMOylation functions. However, only four SUMO ligases involved in SUMOylation have been reported in plants. Here, we report MPEL1 as a new SUMO ligase in maize, which paradoxically exhibits SUMO ligase activity despite its sequence homology to SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligases (STUbL). MPEL1 stabilizes the plant-specific mitogen-activated protein kinase 16 (MAPK16) via SUMOylation at Lys526 within C-terminal domain (CTD). MAPK16 directly binds to JAZ20 via its C-terminal domain and phosphorylates JAZ20 at Thr12/Ser13 residues, thereby triggering its proteasomal degradation and activating broad-spectrum resistance against two Fusarium pathogens. These pathogens cause devastating maize ear rot and stalk rot, leading to severe yield losses and serious food safety concerns worldwide. Notably, MAPK16 overexpression and JAZ20 knockout enhance disease resistance without yield penalty, highlighting their potential for crop improvement. These findings expand the plant SUMO ligase family and provide targets for breeding Fusarium-resistant crops.
More Related Videos
05:51Evaluating Leaf Responses to Microbial Secondary Metabolites Using A High-Throughput Format
Published on: December 5, 2025
11:50Bacterial Leaf Infiltration Assay for Fine Characterization of Plant Defense Responses using the Arabidopsis thaliana-Pseudomonas syringae Pathosystem
Published on: October 1, 2015
Related Concept Videos
MAPK Signaling Cascades
Microbe-Plant Interactions
Microtubule Associated Proteins (MAPs)
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
Cell Signaling in Plants
Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation
The recognition sites for Cre recombinase called LoxP...