Timing is everything: highly specific and transient expression of a MAP kinase determines auxin-induced leaf venation patterns in Arabidopsis

Molecular traits of MAPK kinases and the regulatory mechanism of GhMAPKK5 alleviating drought/salt stress in cotton

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (MAPKKs) play a critical role in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, transducing external stimuli into intracellular responses and enabling plant adaptation to environmental challenges. Most research has focused on the model plant Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). The systematic analysis and characterization of MAPKK genes across different plant species, particularly in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), are somewhat limited. Here, we identified MAPKK family members from 66 different species, which clustered into five different sub-groups, and MAPKKs from four cotton species clustered together. Through further bioinformatic and expression analyses, GhMAPKK5 was identified as the most responsive MAPKK member to salt and drought stress among the 23 MAPKKs identified in Gossypium hirsutum. Silencing GhMAPKK5 in cotton through virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) led to quicker wilting under salt and drought conditions, while overexpressing GhMAPKK5 in Arabidopsis enhanced root growth and seed germination under these stresses, demonstrating GhMAPKK5's positive role in stress tolerance. Transcriptomics and Yeast-Two-Hybrid assays revealed a MAPK cascade signal module comprising GhMEKK (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases)3/8/31-GhMAPKK5-GhMAPK11/23. This signaling cascade may play a role in managing drought and salt stress by regulating transcription factor genes, such as WRKYs, which are involved in the biosynthesis and transport pathways of ABA, proline, and RALF. This study is highly important for further understanding the regulatory mechanism of MAPKK in cotton, contributing to its stress tolerance and offering potential in targets for genetic enhancement.

Deciphering the regulatory network of the NAC transcription factor FvRIF, a key regulator of strawberry (Fragaria vesca) fruit ripening

The NAC transcription factor ripening inducing factor (RIF) was previously reported to be necessary for the ripening of octoploid strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) fruit, but the mechanistic basis of RIF-mediated transcriptional regulation and how RIF activity is modulated remains elusive. Here, we show that FvRIF in diploid strawberry, Fragaria vesca, is a key regulator in the control of fruit ripening and that knockout mutations of FvRIF result in a complete block of fruit ripening. DNA affinity purification sequencing coupled with transcriptome deep sequencing suggests that 2,080 genes are direct targets of FvRIF-mediated regulation, including those related to various aspects of fruit ripening. We provide evidence that FvRIF modulates anthocyanin biosynthesis and fruit softening by directly regulating the related core genes. Moreover, we demonstrate that FvRIF interacts with and serves as a substrate of MAP kinase 6 (FvMAPK6), which regulates the transcriptional activation function of FvRIF by phosphorylating FvRIF at Thr-310. Our findings uncover the FvRIF-mediated transcriptional regulatory network in controlling strawberry fruit ripening and highlight the physiological significance of phosphorylation modification on FvRIF activity in ripening.

OsVQ1 links rice immunity and flowering via interaction with a mitogen-activated protein kinase OsMPK6

Knocking out OsVQ1 in rice released OsMPK6 for activation and in turn promoted H₂O₂ accumulation, which repressed the expression of flowering-promoting genes, thus delaying rice flowering but enhancing disease resistance. The valine-glutamine (VQ) protein family, which contains the conserved motif FxxxVQxLTG ("x" represents any amino acid), plays a crucial role in plant growth and immunity along with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades. However, only a few rice VQ proteins have been functionally characterized, and the roles of the MAPK-VQ module in rice biological processes are not fully understood. Here, we investigated the role of OsVQ1 in rice disease resistance and the control of flowering time. The OsVQ1-knock out (KO) mutants exhibited increased resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pathovars, accumulated high levels of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and showed a late flowering phenotype under natural long-day conditions, while the OsVQ1-overexpressing plants showed phenotypes similar to that of the wild type. Further studies revealed that OsVQ1 physically interacted with and inhibited OsMPK6 activity. In addition, OsVQ1 expression was downregulated by the pathogen-induced OsMPKK10.2-OsMPK6-OsWRKY45 cascade, suggesting a feedback loop between OsVQ1 and OsMPK6. Moreover, the OsVQ1-KO/osmpk6 double-mutant exhibited increased susceptibility to X. oryzae infection and showed an early flowering phenotype, which may partially be attributed to the reduced accumulation of H₂O₂ and the consequent up-expression of flowering-promoting genes. These results suggested that the OsVQ1-OsMPK6 module was involved in rice immunity and flowering.

The Arabidopsis Root Tip (Phospho)Proteomes at Growth-Promoting versus Growth-Repressing Conditions Reveal Novel Root Growth Regulators

Auxin plays a dual role in growth regulation and, depending on the tissue and concentration of the hormone, it can either promote or inhibit division and expansion processes in plants. Recent studies have revealed that, beyond transcriptional reprogramming, alternative auxin-controlled mechanisms regulate root growth. Here, we explored the impact of different concentrations of the synthetic auxin NAA that establish growth-promoting and -repressing conditions on the root tip proteome and phosphoproteome, generating a unique resource. From the phosphoproteome data, we pinpointed (novel) growth regulators, such as the RALF34-THE1 module. Our results, together with previously published studies, suggest that auxin, H⁺-ATPases, cell wall modifications and cell wall sensing receptor-like kinases are tightly embedded in a pathway regulating cell elongation. Furthermore, our study assigned a novel role to MKK2 as a regulator of primary root growth and a (potential) regulator of auxin biosynthesis and signalling, and suggests the importance of the MKK2 Thr³¹ phosphorylation site for growth regulation in the Arabidopsis root tip.

Cross Inhibition of MPK10 and WRKY10 Participating in the Growth of Endosperm in Arabidopsis thaliana

The product of double fertilization produces seed, which contains three components: triploid endosperm, diploid embryo, and maternal seed coat. Amongst them, the endosperm plays a crucial role in coordinating seed growth. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are conserved in eukaryotes and involved in signal transduction of plant development. MPK3, MPK6, and MPK10 form a small group of MPKs family in Arabidopsis thaliana. MPK3 and MPK6 are extensively studied and were found to be involved in diverse processes including plant reproduction. However, less is known about the function of MPK10. Here, we found WRKY10/MINI3, a member of HAIKU (IKU) pathway engaging in endosperm development, and MPK10 is high-specifically expressed in the early developmental endosperm but with opposite gradients. We further proved that MPK10 and WRKY10 cross-inhibit the expression of each other. The inhibition effect of MPK10 on gene expression of WRKY10 and the downstream targets is supported by the fact that MPK10 interacts with WRKY10 and suppresses the transcriptional activity of WRKY10. Constantly, mpk10 mutants produce big seeds while WRKY10/MINI3 positively regulate seed growth. Altogether, our data provides a model of WRKY10 and MPK10 regulating endosperm development with a unique cross inhibitory mechanism.

Receptor-Like Protein Kinases Function Upstream of MAPKs in Regulating Plant Development

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are a group of protein kinase broadly involved in various signal pathways in eukaryotes. In plants, MAPK cascades regulate growth, development, stress responses and immunity by perceiving signals from the upstream regulators and transmitting the phosphorylation signals to the downstream signaling components. To reveal the interactions between MAPK cascades and their upstream regulators is important for understanding the functional mechanisms of MAPKs in the life span of higher plants. Typical receptor-like protein kinases (RLKs) are plasma membrane-located to perceive endogenous or exogenous signal molecules in regulating plant growth, development and immunity. MAPK cascades bridge the extracellular signals and intracellular transcription factors in many RLK-mediated signaling pathways. This review focuses on the current findings that RLKs regulate plant development through MAPK cascades and discusses questions that are worth investigating in the near future.

A Förster resonance energy transfer sensor for live-cell imaging of mitogen-activated protein kinase activity in Arabidopsis

The catalytic activity of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) is dynamically modified in plants. Since MAPKs have been shown to play important roles in a wide range of signaling pathways, the ability to monitor MAPK activity in living plant cells would be valuable. Here, we report the development of a genetically encoded MAPK activity sensor for use in Arabidopsis thaliana. The sensor is composed of yellow and blue fluorescent proteins, a phosphopeptide binding domain, a MAPK substrate domain and a flexible linker. Using in vitro testing, we demonstrated that phosphorylation causes an increase in the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) efficiency of the sensor. The FRET efficiency can therefore serve as a readout of kinase activity. We also produced transgenic Arabidopsis lines expressing this sensor of MAPK activity (SOMA) and performed live-cell imaging experiments using detached cotyledons. Treatment with NaCl, the synthetic flagellin peptide flg22 and chitin all led to rapid gains in FRET efficiency. Control lines expressing a version of SOMA in which the phosphosite was mutated to an alanine did not show any substantial changes in FRET. We also expressed the sensor in a conditional loss-of-function double-mutant line for the Arabidopsis MAPK genes MPK3 and MPK6. These experiments demonstrated that MPK3/6 are necessary for the NaCl-induced FRET gain of the sensor, while other MAPKs are probably contributing to the chitin and flg22-induced increases in FRET. Taken together, our results suggest that SOMA is able to dynamically report MAPK activity in living plant cells.

Auxin-mediated regulation of vascular patterning in Arabidopsis thaliana leaves

The vascular system develops in response to auxin flow as continuous strands of conducting tissues arranged in regular spatial patterns. However, a mechanism governing their regular and repetitive formation remains to be fully elucidated. A model system for studying the vascular pattern formation is the process of leaf vascularization in Arabidopsis. In this paper, we present current knowledge of important factors and their interactions in this process. Additionally, we propose the sequence of events leading to the emergence of continuous vascular strands and point to significant problems that need to be resolved in the future to gain a better understanding of the regulation of the vascular pattern development.

Subtle regulation of cotton resistance to Verticillium wilt mediated by MAPKK family members

Verticillium wilt caused by soil-borne fungus of Verticillium dahliae Kleb. is one of the most devastating diseases of cotton. Since the hierarchically organized mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade plays pivotal roles in signaling plant defense against pathogen attack, and the key nodes of MAPKKs (MKKs) may serve as for the convergence and divergence of signals in MAPK cascades, the possible relations between MAPK signaling and cotton Verticillium resistance were examined in this study. A total of 24 MKK genes were identified in the Gossypium hirsutum L. genome and then classified based on phylogenetic analysis. Then the regulation roles of all types of cotton MKKs in activation of cotton disease resistance were tested with the virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) method. The results showed that three types of MKKs (GhMKK4, GhMKK6 and GhMKK9) positively regulate, while GhMKK10 negatively regulate the cotton resistance to Verticillium wilt. Further, more subtle regulation of cotton resistance mediated by MKK genes were revealed. In GhMKK9, only Gh_A12G2448 and Gh_D12G2574 displayed positive regulation of cotton resistance; whereas only Gh_A12G1883 and Gh_D12G2062 displayed negative regulation of cotton resistance in GhMKK10. All these results show that MKK members in MAPK signal cascades play dual roles in subtly regulating of cotton resistance to Verticillium wilt.

Cell and Developmental Biology of Plant Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases

Plant mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) constitute a network of signaling cascades responsible for transducing extracellular stimuli and decoding them to dedicated cellular and developmental responses that shape the plant body. Over the last decade, we have accumulated information about how MAPK modules control the development of reproductive tissues and gametes and the embryogenic and postembryonic development of vegetative organs such as roots, root nodules, shoots, and leaves. Of key importance to understanding how MAPKs participate in developmental and environmental signaling is the characterization of their subcellular localization, their interactions with upstream signal perception mechanisms, and the means by which they target their substrates. In this review, we summarize the roles of MAPK signaling in the regulation of key plant developmental processes, and we survey what is known about the mechanisms guiding the subcellular compartmentalization of MAPK modules.

MAP kinases associate with high molecular weight multiprotein complexes

Plant responses to the environment and developmental processes are mediated by a complex signaling network. The Arabidopsis thaliana mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) MPK3 and MPK6 and their orthologs in other plants are shared signal transducers that respond to many developmental and environmental signals and thus represent highly connected hubs in the cellular signaling network. In animals, specific MAPK signaling complexes are assembled which enable input-specific protein-protein interactions and thus specific signaling outcomes. In plants, not much is known about such signaling complexes. Here, we report that MPK3, MPK6, and MPK10 orthologs in tomato, tobacco, and Arabidopsis as well as tomato MAPK kinase 4 (MKK4) associate with high molecular weight (~250-550 kDa) multiprotein complexes. Elicitation by the defense-associated peptides flg22 and systemin resulted in phosphorylation and activation of the monomeric MAPKs, whereas the complex-associated MAPKs remained unphosphorylated and inactive. In contrast, treatment of tomato cells with a phosphatase inhibitor resulted in association of phosphorylated MPK1/2 with the complex. These results demonstrate that plant MAPKs and MAPKKs dynamically assemble into stable multiprotein complexes and this may depend on their phosphorylation status. Identification of the constituents of these multiprotein complexes promises a deeper understanding of signaling dynamics.

Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) Genetic Linkage Map of D Genome Diploid Cotton Derived from an Interspecific Cross between Gossypium davidsonii and Gossypium klotzschianum

The challenge in tetraploid cotton cultivars is the narrow genetic base and therefore, the bottleneck is how to obtain interspecific hybrids and introduce the germplasm directly from wild cotton to elite cultivars. Construction of genetic maps has provided insight into understanding the genome structure, interrelationships between organisms in relation to evolution, and discovery of genes that carry important agronomic traits in plants. In this study, we generated an interspecific hybrid between two wild diploid cottons, Gossypium davidsonii and Gossypium klotzschianum, and genotyped 188 F2:3 populations in order to develop a genetic map. We screened 12,560 SWU Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) primers and obtained 1000 polymorphic markers which accounted for only 8%. A total of 928 polymorphic primers were successfully scored and only 728 were effectively linked across the 13 chromosomes, but with an asymmetrical distribution. The map length was 1480.23 cM, with an average length of 2.182 cM between adjacent markers. A high percentage of the markers on the map developed, and for the physical map of G. raimondii, exhibited highly significant collinearity, with two types of duplication. High level of segregation distortion was observed. A total of 27 key genes were identified with diverse roles in plant hormone signaling, development, and defense reactions. The achievement of developing the F2:3 population and its genetic map constructions may be a landmark in establishing a new tool for the genetic improvement of cultivars from wild plants in cotton. Our map had an increased recombination length compared to other maps developed from other D genome cotton species.

Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Cascades in Plant Hormone Signaling

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) modules play key roles in the transduction of environmental and developmental signals through phosphorylation of downstream signaling targets, including other kinases, enzymes, cytoskeletal proteins or transcription factors, in all eukaryotic cells. A typical MAPK cascade consists of at least three sequentially acting serine/threonine kinases, a MAP kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK), a MAP kinase kinase (MAPKK) and finally, the MAP kinase (MAPK) itself, with each phosphorylating, and hence activating, the next kinase in the cascade. Recent advances in our understanding of hormone signaling pathways have led to the discovery of new regulatory systems. In particular, this research has revealed the emerging role of crosstalk between the protein components of various signaling pathways and the involvement of this crosstalk in multiple cellular processes. Here we provide an overview of current models and mechanisms of hormone signaling with a special emphasis on the role of MAPKs in cell signaling networks. One-sentence summary: In this review we highlight the mechanisms of crosstalk between MAPK cascades and plant hormone signaling pathways and summarize recent findings on MAPK regulation and function in various cellular processes.

Genetic Regulation of GA Metabolism during Vernalization, Floral Bud Initiation and Development in Pak Choi (Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis Makino)

Pak choi (Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis Makino) is a representative seed vernalization vegetable and premature bolting in spring can cause significant economic loss. Thus, it is critical to elucidate the mechanism of molecular regulation of vernalization and floral bud initiation to prevent premature bolting. Gibberellin (GA) is the key plant hormone involved in regulating plant development. To gain a better understanding of GA metabolism in pak choi, the content of GA in pak choi was measured at different stages of plant development using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed that the GA content increased significantly after low-temperature treatment (4°C) and then decreased rapidly with vegetative growth. During floral bud initiation, the GA content increased rapidly until it peaked upon floral bud differentiation. To elucidate these changes in GA content, the expression of homologous genes encoding enzymes directly involved in GA metabolism were analyzed. The results showed that the changes in the expression of four genes involved in GA synthesis (Bra035120 encoding ent-kaurene synthase, Bra009868 encoding ent-kaurene oxidase, Bra015394 encoding ent-kaurenoic acid oxidase, and Bra013890 encoding GA20-oxidase) were correlated with the changes in GA content. In addition, by comparing the expression of genes involved in GA metabolism at different growth stages, seven differentially expressed genes (Bra005596, Bra009285, Bra022565, Bra008362, Bra033324, Bra010802, and Bra030500) were identified. The differential expression of these genes were directly correlated with changes in GA content, suggesting that these genes were directly related to vernalization, floral bud initiation and development. These results contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanism of changes in GA content during different developmental phases in pak choi.

MAPK-mediated auxin signal transduction pathways regulate the malic acid secretion under aluminum stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

An isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitative (iTRAQ)-based quantitative proteomic approach was used to screen the differentially expressed proteins during control treatment (CK), aluminum (Al) and Al⁺ indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) treatment of wheat lines ET8 (Al-tolerant). Further, the the expression levels of auxin response factor (ARF), Aux/IAA, Mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) 2c, and MAPK1a were analyzed. Results showed that 16 proteins were determined to be differentially expressed in response to Al and IAA co-treatment compared with Al alone. Among them, MAPK2c and MAPK1a proteins displayed markedly differential expression during the processes. The expression of ARF2 was upregulated and Aux/IAA was downregulated by Al, while both in concentration- and time-dependent manners. Western-blot detection of MAPK2c and MAPK1a indicated that Al upregulated MAPK2c and downregulated MAPK1a in both concentration- and time-dependent manners. Exogenous IAA could promote the expression of MAPK2c, but inhibit the expression of MAPK1a in the presence/absence of Al. These findings indicated that IAA acted as one of the key signaling molecule controls the response mechanism of wheat malic acid efflux to Al stress through the suppression/activation of Aux/IAA and ARFs, and the activity of MAPK2c and MAPK1a were positively or negatively regulated.

Gene Expression Analysis of Pak Choi in Response to Vernalization

Pak choi is a seed vernalization-type plant whose vernalization mechanism is currently unclear. Therefore, it is critical to discover genes related to vernalization and research its functions during vernalization in pak choi. Here, the gene expression profiles in the shoot apex were analyzed after low temperature treatment using high-throughput RNA sequencing technology. The results showed that there are 1,664 and 1,192 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in pak choi in cold treatment ending and before flower bud differentiation, respectively, including 42 genes that exhibited similar expression trend at both stages. Detailed annotation revealed that the proteins encoded by the DEGs are located in the extracellular region, cell junction and extracellular matrix. These proteins exhibit activity such as antioxidant activity and binding protein/transcription factor activity, and they are involved in signal transduction and the immune system/biological processes. Among the DEGs, Bra014527 was up-regulated in low temperature treatment ending, Bra024097 was up-regulated before flower bud differentiation and Bra035940 was down-regulated at both stages in low temperature-treated shoot apices. Homologues of these genes in A. thaliana, AT3G59790, AT4G30200 and AT5G61150, are involved in flowering and vernalization, suggesting that they take part in the vernalization process in pak choi. Further pathway enrichment analysis revealed that most genes were enriched in the tryptophan metabolism and glucosinolate biosynthesis pathways. However, the functions of tryptophan and glucosinolate in vernalization are not yet clear and require further analysis.

Genome-wide identification and transcriptional expression analysis of mitogen-activated protein kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase genes in Capsicum annuum

The tripartite mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascades have been implicated in plant growth, development, and environment adaptation, but a comprehensive understanding of MAPK signaling at genome-wide level is limited in Capsicum annuum. Herein, genome-wide identification and transcriptional expression analysis of MAPK and MAPK kinase (MAPKK) were performed in pepper. A total of 19 pepper MAPK (CaMAPKs) genes and five MAPKK (CaMAPKKs) genes were identified. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that CaMAPKs and CaMAPKKs could be classified into four groups and each group contains similar exon-intron structures. However, significant divergences were also found. Notably, five members of the pepper MAPKK family were much less conserved than those found in Arabidopsis, and 9 Arabidopsis MAPKs did not have orthologs in pepper. Additionally, 7 MAPKs in Arabidopsis had either two or three orthologs in the pepper genome, and six pepper MAPKs and one MAPKK differing in sequence were found in three pepper varieties. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that the majority of MAPK and MAPKK genes were ubiquitously expressed and transcriptionally modified in pepper leaves after treatments with heat, salt, and Ralstonia solanacearum inoculation as well as exogenously applied salicylic acid, methyl jasmonate, ethephon, and abscisic acid. The MAPKK-MAPK interactome was tested by yeast two-hybrid assay, the results showed that one MAPKK might interact with multiple MAPKs, one MAPK might also interact with more than one MAPKKs, constituting MAPK signaling networks which may collaborate in transmitting upstream signals into appropriate downstream cellular responses and processes. These results will facilitate future functional characterization of MAPK cascades in pepper.