The role of EDS1 (enhanced disease susceptibility) during singlet oxygen-mediated stress responses of Arabidopsis

The interplay of singlet oxygen and ABI4 in plant growth regulation

Abscisic acid (ABA) and the AP2/ERF (APETALA 2/ETHYLENE-RESPONSIVE FACTOR)-type transcription factor ABA INSENSITIVE 4 (ABI4) control plant growth and development. We review how singlet oxygen, which is produced in chloroplasts of the fluorescent mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana (arabidopsis), and ABI4 may cooperate in transcriptional and translational reprogramming to cause plants to halt growth or demise. Key elements of singlet oxygen- and ABI4-dependent chloroplast-to-nucleus retrograde signaling involve the chloroplast EXECUTER (EX) 1 and EX2 proteins as well as nuclear WRKY transcription factors. Mutants designed to study singlet oxygen signaling, that lack either ABI4 or the EX1 and EX2 proteins, do not show most of the growth effects of singlet oxygen. We propose a model that positions ABI4 downstream of WRKY transcription factors and EX1 and EX2.

The chloroplast singlet oxygen-triggered biosynthesis of salicylic acid and jasmonic acid is mediated by EX1 and GUN1 in Arabidopsis

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and defence hormones like salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) play pivotal roles in triggering cell death. However, the precise mechanism governing the interaction between ROS and SA/JA remains elusive. Recently, our research revealed that RNAi mutants with suppressed expression of PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH8 (PCD8) exhibit an overabundance of tetrapyrrole intermediates, particularly uroporphyrinogen III (Uro III), leading to the accumulation of singlet oxygen (1O2) during the transition from darkness to light, thereby instigating leaf necrosis. In this investigation, we uncovered that 1O2 stimulates biosynthesis of SA and JA, activating SA/JA signalling and the expression of responsive genes in PCD8 RNAi (pcd8) mutants. Introducing NahG or knocking out PAD4 or NPR1 significantly alleviates the cell death phenotype of pcd8 mutants, while coi1 partially mitigates the pcd8 phenotype. Further exploration revealed that EX1 and GUN1 can partially rescue the pcd8 phenotype by reducing the levels of Uro III and 1O2. Notably, mutations in EX1 mutations but not GUN1, substantially diminish SA content in pcd8 mutants compared to the wild type, implying that EX1 acts as the primary mediator of 1O2 signalling-mediated SA biosynthesis. Moreover, the triple ex1 gun1 pcd8 displays a phenotype similar to ex1. Overall, our findings underscore that the 1O2-induced cell death phenotype requires EX1/GUN1-mediated retrograde signalling in pcd8 mutants, providing novel insights into the interplay between ROS and SA/JA.

Singlet oxygen signalling and its potential roles in plant biotic interactions

Singlet oxygen (SO) is among the most potent reactive oxygen species, and readily oxidizes proteins, lipids and DNA. It can be generated at the plant surface by phototoxins in the epidermis, acting as a direct defense against pathogens and herbivores (including humans). SO can also accumulate within mitochondria, peroxisomes, cytosol and the nucleus through multiple enzymatic and nonenzymatic processes. However, the majority of research on intracellular SO generation in plants has focused on transfer of light energy to triplet oxygen by photopigments from the chloroplast. SO accumulates in response to diverse stresses that perturb chloroplast metabolism, and while its high reactivity limits diffusion distances, it participates in retrograde signalling through the EXECUTER1 sensor, generation of carotenoid metabolites and possibly other unknown pathways. SO thereby reprogrammes nuclear gene expression and modulates hormone signalling and programmed cell death. While SO signalling has long been known to regulate plant responses to high-light stress, recent literature also suggests a role in plant interactions with insects, bacteria and fungi. The goals of this review are to provide a brief overview of SO, summarize evidence for its involvement in biotic stress responses and discuss future directions for the study of SO in defense signalling.

Plant U-Box 4 regulates chloroplast stress signaling and programmed cell death via Salicylic acid modulation

In response to environmental stress, chloroplasts generate reactive oxygen species, including singlet oxygen (1O2), which regulates nuclear gene expression (retrograde signaling), chloroplast turnover, and programmed cell death (PCD). Yet, the central signaling mechanisms and downstream responses remain poorly understood. The Arabidopsis thaliana plastid ferrochelatase two (fc2) mutant conditionally accumulates 1O2 and involves Plant U-Box 4 (PUB4), a cytoplasmic E3 ubiquitin ligase, in propagating these signals. To gain insights into 1O2 signaling pathways, we compared transcriptomes of fc2 and fc2 pub4 mutants. The accumulation of 1O2 in fc2 plants broadly repressed genes involved in chloroplast function and photosynthesis, while 1O2 induced genes and transcription factors involved in abiotic and biotic stress, the biosynthesis of jasmonic acid (JA), and Salicylic acid (SA). Elevated JA and SA levels were observed in stressed fc2 plants, but were not responsible for PCD. pub4 reversed the majority of 1O2-induced gene expression in fc2 and reduced the JA content, but maintained elevated levels of SA even in the absence of 1O2 stress. Reducing SA levels in fc2 pub4 restored 1O2 signaling and light sensitivity. Together, this work demonstrates that SA plays a protective role during photo-oxidative stress and that PUB4 mediates 1O2 signaling by modulating its levels.

Alternaria TeA toxin activates a chloroplast retrograde signaling pathway to facilitate JA-dependent pathogenicity

The chloroplast is a critical battleground in the arms race between plants and pathogens. Among microbe-secreted mycotoxins, tenuazonic acid (TeA), produced by the genus Alternaria and other phytopathogenic fungi, inhibits photosynthesis, leading to a burst of photosynthetic singlet oxygen (1O2) that is implicated in damage and chloroplast-to-nucleus retrograde signaling. Despite the significant crop damage caused by Alternaria pathogens, our understanding of the molecular mechanism by which TeA promotes pathogenicity and cognate plant defense responses remains fragmentary. We now reveal that A. alternata induces necrotrophic foliar lesions by harnessing EXECUTER1 (EX1)/EX2-mediated chloroplast-to-nucleus retrograde signaling activated by TeA toxin-derived photosynthetic 1O2 in Arabidopsis thaliana. Mutation of the 1O2-sensitive EX1-W643 residue or complete deletion of the EX1 singlet oxygen sensor domain compromises expression of 1O2-responsive nuclear genes and foliar lesions. We also found that TeA toxin rapidly induces nuclear genes implicated in jasmonic acid (JA) synthesis and signaling, and EX1-mediated retrograde signaling appears to be critical for establishing a signaling cascade from 1O2 to JA. The present study sheds new light on the foliar pathogenicity of A. alternata, during which EX1-dependent 1O2 signaling induces JA-dependent foliar cell death.

Shoot transcriptome revealed widespread differential expression and potential molecular mechanisms of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) against Fusarium wilt

Introduction

The yield of chickpea is severely hampered by infection wilt caused by several races of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris (Foc).

Methods

To understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of resistance against Foc4 Fusarium wilt, RNA sequencing-based shoot transcriptome data of two contrasting chickpea genotypes, namely KWR 108 (resistant) and GL 13001 (susceptible), were generated and analyzed.

Results and Discussion

The shoot transcriptome data showed 1,103 and 1,221 significant DEGs in chickpea genotypes KWR 108 and GL 13001, respectively. Among these, 495 and 608 genes were significantly down and up-regulated in genotypes KWR 108, and 427 and 794 genes were significantly down and up-regulated in genotype GL 13001. The gene ontology (GO) analysis of significant DEGs was performed and the GO of the top 50 DEGs in two contrasting chickpea genotypes showed the highest cellular components as membrane and nucleus, and molecular functions including nucleotide binding, metal ion binding, transferase, kinase, and oxidoreductase activity involved in biological processes such as phosphorylation, oxidation-reduction, cell redox homeostasis process, and DNA repair. Compared to the susceptible genotype which showed significant up-regulation of genes involved in processes like DNA repair, the significantly up-regulated DEGs of the resistant genotypes were involved in processes like energy metabolism and environmental adaptation, particularly host-pathogen interaction. This indicates an efficient utilization of environmental adaptation pathways, energy homeostasis, and stable DNA molecules as the strategy to cope with Fusarium wilt infection in chickpea. The findings of the study will be useful in targeting the genes in designing gene-based markers for association mapping with the traits of interest in chickpea under Fusarium wilt which could be efficiently utilized in marker-assisted breeding of chickpea, particularly against Foc4 Fusarium wilt.

A genetic screen for dominant chloroplast reactive oxygen species signaling mutants reveals life stage-specific singlet oxygen signaling networks

Introduction

Plants employ intricate molecular mechanisms to respond to abiotic stresses, which often lead to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within organelles such as chloroplasts. Such ROS can produce stress signals that regulate cellular response mechanisms. One ROS, singlet oxygen (1O2), is predominantly produced in the chloroplast during photosynthesis and can trigger chloroplast degradation, programmed cell death (PCD), and retrograde (organelle-to-nucleus) signaling. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in these signaling pathways or how many different signaling 1O2 pathways may exist.

Methods

The Arabidopsis thaliana plastid ferrochelatase two (fc2) mutant conditionally accumulates chloroplast 1O2, making fc2 a valuable genetic system for studying chloroplast 1O2-initiated signaling. Here, we have used activation tagging in a new forward genetic screen to identify eight dominant fc2 activation-tagged (fas) mutations that suppress chloroplast 1O2-initiated PCD.

Results

While 1O2-triggered PCD is blocked in all fc2 fas mutants in the adult stage, such cellular degradation in the seedling stage is blocked in only two mutants. This differential blocking of PCD suggests that life-stage-specific 1O2-response pathways exist. In addition to PCD, fas mutations generally reduce 1O2-induced retrograde signals. Furthermore, fas mutants have enhanced tolerance to excess light, a natural mechanism to produce chloroplast 1O2. However, general abiotic stress tolerance was only observed in one fc2 fas mutant (fc2 fas2). Together, this suggests that plants can employ general stress tolerance mechanisms to overcome 1O2 production but that this screen was mostly specific to 1O2 signaling. We also observed that salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonate (JA) stress hormone response marker genes were induced in 1O2-stressed fc2 and generally reduced by fas mutations, suggesting that SA and JA signaling is correlated with active 1O2 signaling and PCD.

Discussion

Together, this work highlights the complexity of 1O2 signaling by demonstrating that multiple pathways may exist and introduces a suite of new 1O2 signaling mutants to investigate the mechanisms controlling chloroplast-initiated degradation, PCD, and retrograde signaling.

PSI Photoinhibition and Changing CO2 Levels Initiate Retrograde Signals to Modify Nuclear Gene Expression

Photosystem I (PSI) is a critical component of the photosynthetic machinery in plants. Under conditions of environmental stress, PSI becomes photoinhibited, leading to a redox imbalance in the chloroplast. PSI photoinhibition is caused by an increase in electron pressure within PSI, which damages the iron-sulfur clusters. In this study, we investigated the susceptibility of PSI to photoinhibition in plants at different concentrations of CO2, followed by global gene expression analyses of the differentially treated plants. PSI photoinhibition was induced using a specific illumination protocol that inhibited PSI with minimal effects on PSII. Unexpectedly, the varying CO2 levels combined with the PSI-PI treatment neither increased nor decreased the likelihood of PSI photodamage. All PSI photoinhibition treatments, independent of CO2 levels, upregulated genes generally involved in plant responses to excess iron and downregulated genes involved in iron deficiency. PSI photoinhibition also induced genes encoding photosynthetic proteins that act as electron acceptors from PSI. We propose that PSI photoinhibition causes a release of iron from damaged iron-sulfur clusters, which initiates a retrograde signal from the chloroplast to the nucleus to modify gene expression. In addition, the deprivation of CO2 from the air initiated a signal that induced flavonoid biosynthesis genes, probably via jasmonate production.

Chloroplast proteostasis: A story of birth, life, and death

Protein homeostasis (proteostasis) is a dynamic balance of protein synthesis and degradation. Because of the endosymbiotic origin of chloroplasts and the massive transfer of their genetic information to the nucleus of the host cell, many protein complexes in the chloroplasts are constituted from subunits encoded by both genomes. Hence, the proper function of chloroplasts relies on the coordinated expression of chloroplast- and nucleus-encoded genes. The biogenesis and maintenance of chloroplast proteostasis are dependent on synthesis of chloroplast-encoded proteins, import of nucleus-encoded chloroplast proteins from the cytosol, and clearance of damaged or otherwise undesired "old" proteins. This review focuses on the regulation of chloroplast proteostasis, its interaction with proteostasis of the cytosol, and its retrograde control over nuclear gene expression. We also discuss significant issues and perspectives for future studies and potential applications for improving the photosynthetic performance and stress tolerance of crops.

Chloroplast redox state changes mark cell-to-cell signaling in the hypersensitive response

Hypersensitive response (HR)-conferred resistance is associated with induction of programmed cell death and pathogen spread restriction in its proximity. The exact role of chloroplastic reactive oxygen species and its link with salicylic acid (SA) signaling in HR remain unexplained. To unravel this, we performed a detailed spatiotemporal analysis of chloroplast redox response in palisade mesophyll and upper epidermis to potato virus Y (PVY) infection in a resistant potato genotype and its transgenic counterpart with impaired SA accumulation and compromised resistance. Besides the cells close to the cell death zone, we detected individual cells with oxidized chloroplasts further from the cell death zone. These are rare in SA-deficient plants, suggesting their role in signaling for resistance. We confirmed that chloroplast redox changes play important roles in signaling for resistance, as blocking chloroplast redox changes affected spatial responses at the transcriptional level. Through spatiotemporal study of stromule induction after PVY infection, we show that stromules are induced by cell death and also as a response to PVY multiplication at the front of infection. Overall induction of stromules is attenuated in SA-deficient plants.

Grapevine response to a Dittrichia viscosa extract and a Bacillus velezensis strain

The present study aims to evaluate the response of the three Mediterranean local grapevines 'Garnacha Blanca', 'Garnacha Tinta', and 'Macabeo' to treatments with biocontrol products, namely a botanical extract (Akivi, Dittrichia viscosa extract) and a beneficial microorganism (Bacillus UdG, Bacillus velezensis). A combination of transcriptomics and metabolomics approaches were chosen in order to study grapevine gene expression and to identify gene marker candidates, as well as, to determine differentially concentrated grapevine metabolites in response to biocontrol product treatments. Grapevine plants were cultivated in greenhouse under controlled conditions and submitted to the treatments. Thereafter, leaves were sampled 24h after treatment to carry out the gene expression study by RT-qPCR for the three cultivars and by RNA-sequencing for 'Garnacha Blanca'. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were investigated for both treatments and highly influenced DEGs were selected to be tested in the three cultivars as treatment gene markers. In addition, the extraction of leaf components was performed to quantify metabolites, such as phytohormones, organic acids, and phenols. Considering the upregulated and downregulated genes and the enhanced metabolites concentrations, the treatments had an effect on jasmonic acid, ethylene, and phenylpropanoids defense pathways. In addition, several DEG markers were identified presenting a stable overexpression after the treatments in the three grapevine cultivars. These gene markers could be used to monitor the activity of the products in field treatments. Further research will be necessary to confirm these primary results under field conditions.

Organelles and phytohormones: a network of interactions in plant stress responses

Phytohormones are major signaling components that contribute to nearly all aspects of plant life. They constitute an interconnected communication network to fine-tune growth and development in response to the ever-changing environment. To this end, they have to coordinate with other signaling components, such as reactive oxygen species and calcium signals. On the one hand, the two endosymbiotic organelles, plastids and mitochondria, control various aspects of phytohormone signaling and harbor important steps of hormone precursor biosynthesis. On the other hand, phytohormones have feedback actions on organellar functions. In addition, organelles and phytohormones often act in parallel in a coordinated matter to regulate cellular functions. Therefore, linking organelle functions with increasing knowledge of phytohormone biosynthesis, perception, and signaling will reveal new aspects of plant stress tolerance. In this review, we highlight recent work on organelle-phytohormone interactions focusing on the major stress-related hormones abscisic acid, jasmonates, salicylic acid, and ethylene.

Intertwined Roles of Reactive Oxygen Species and Salicylic Acid Signaling Are Crucial for the Plant Response to Biotic Stress

One of the earliest hallmarks of plant immune response is production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in different subcellular compartments, which regulate plant immunity. A suitable equilibrium, which is crucial to prevent ROS overaccumulation leading to oxidative stress, is maintained by salicylic acid (SA), a chief regulator of ROS. However, ROS not only act downstream of SA signaling, but are also proposed to be a central component of a self-amplifying loop that regulates SA signaling as well as the interaction balance between different phytohormones. The exact role of this crosstalk, the position where SA interferes with ROS signaling and ROS interferes with SA signaling and the outcome of this regulation, depend on the origin of ROS but also on the pathosystem. The precise spatiotemporal regulation of organelle-specific ROS and SA levels determine the effectiveness of pathogen arrest and is therefore crucial for a successful immune response. However, the regulatory interplay behind still remains poorly understood, as up until now, the role of organelle-specific ROS and SA in hypersensitive response (HR)-conferred resistance has mostly been studied by altering the level of a single component. In order to address these aspects, a sophisticated combination of research methods for monitoring the spatiotemporal dynamics of key players and transcriptional activity in plants is needed and will most probably consist of biosensors and precision transcriptomics.

The Two Classes of Ceramide Synthases Play Different Roles in Plant Immunity and Cell Death

Ceramide synthases (CSs) produce ceramides from long-chain bases (LCBs). However, how CSs regulate immunity and cell death in Arabidopsis thaliana remains unclear. Here, we decipher the roles of two classes of CS, CSI (LAG1 HOMOLOG 2, LOH2) and CSII (LOH1/3), in these processes. The loh1-2 and loh1-1 loh3-1 mutants were resistant to the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv maculicola (Psm) DG3 and exhibited programmed cell death (PCD), along with increased LCBs and ceramides, at later stages. In loh1-2, the Psm resistance, PCD, and sphingolipid accumulation were mostly suppressed by inactivation of the lipase-like proteins ENHANCED DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY 1 (EDS1) and PHYTOALEXIN DEFICIENT 4 (PAD4), and partly suppressed by loss of SALICYLIC ACID INDUCTION DEFICIENT 2 (SID2). The LOH1 inhibitor fumonisin B1 (FB1) triggered EDS1/PAD4-independent LCB accumulation, and EDS1/PAD4-dependent cell death, resistance to Psm, and C16 Cer accumulation. Loss of LOH2 enhances FB1-, and sphinganine-induced PCD, indicating that CSI negatively regulates the signaling triggered by CSII inhibition. Like Cer, LCBs mediate cell death and immunity signaling, partly through the EDS1/PAD4 pathway. Our results show that the two classes of ceramide synthases differentially regulate EDS1/PAD4-dependent PCD and immunity via subtle control of LCBs and Cers in Arabidopsis.

Diversity of plant heat shock factors: regulation, interactions, and functions

Plants heat shock factors (HSFs) are encoded by large gene families with variable structure, expression, and function. HSFs are components of complex signaling systems that control responses not only to high temperatures but also to a number of abiotic stresses such as cold, drought, hypoxic conditions, soil salinity, toxic minerals, strong irradiation, and to pathogen threats. Here we provide an overview of the diverse world of plant HSFs through compilation and analysis of their functional versatility, diverse regulation, and interactions. Bioinformatic data on gene expression profiles of Arabidopsis HSF genes were re-analyzed to reveal their characteristic transcript patterns. While HSFs are regulated primarily at the transcript level, alternative splicing and post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation and sumoylation provides further variability. Plant HSFs are involved in an intricate web of protein-protein interactions which adds considerable complexity to their biological function. A list of such interactions was compiled from public databases and published data, and discussed to pinpoint their relevance in transcription control. Although most fundamental studies of plant HSFs have been conducted in the model plant, Arabidopsis, information on HSFs is accumulating in other plants such as tomato, rice, wheat, and sunflower. Understanding the function, interactions, and regulation of HSFs will facilitate the design of novel strategies to use engineered proteins to improve tolerance and adaptation of crops to adverse environmental conditions.

Singlet Oxygen in Plants: Generation, Detection, and Signaling Roles

Singlet oxygen (1O2) refers to the lowest excited electronic state of molecular oxygen. It easily oxidizes biological molecules and, therefore, is cytotoxic. In plant cells, 1O2 is formed mostly in the light in thylakoid membranes by reaction centers of photosystem II. In high concentrations, 1O2 destroys membranes, proteins and DNA, inhibits protein synthesis in chloroplasts leading to photoinhibition of photosynthesis, and can result in cell death. However, 1O2 also acts as a signal relaying information from chloroplasts to the nucleus, regulating expression of nuclear genes. In spite of its extremely short lifetime, 1O2 can diffuse from the chloroplasts into the cytoplasm and the apoplast. As shown by recent studies, 1O2-activated signaling pathways depend not only on the levels but also on the sites of 1O2 production in chloroplasts, and can activate two types of responses, either acclimation to high light or programmed cell death. 1O2 can be produced in high amounts also in root cells during drought stress. This review summarizes recent advances in research on mechanisms and sites of 1O2 generation in plants, on 1O2-activated pathways of retrograde- and cellular signaling, and on the methods to study 1O2 production in plants.

Deficiencies in the Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain Affect Redox Poise and Resistance Toward Colletotrichum higginsianum

To investigate if and how the integrity of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (mETC) influences susceptibility of Arabidopsis toward Colletotrichum higginsianum, we have selected previously characterized mutants with defects at different stages of the mETC, namely, the complex I mutant ndufs4, the complex II mutant sdh2-1, the complex III mutant ucr8-1, and a mutant of the uncoupling protein ucp1-2. Relative to wild type, the selected complex I, II, and III mutants showed decreased total respiration, increased alternative respiration, as well as increased redox charge of the NADP(H) pool and decreased redox charge of the NAD(H) pool in the dark. In the light, mETC mutants accumulated free amino acids, albeit to varying degrees. Glycine and serine, which are involved in carbon recycling from photorespiration, and N-rich amino acids were predominantly increased in mETC mutants compared to the wild type. Taking together the physiological phenotypes of all examined mutants, our results suggest a connection between the limitation in the re-oxidation of reducing equivalents in the mitochondrial matrix and the induction of nitrate assimilation into free amino acids in the cytosol, which seems to be engaged as an additional sink for reducing power. The sdh2-1 mutant was less susceptible to C. higginsianum and did not show hampered salicylic acid (SA) accumulation as previously reported for SDH1 knock-down plants. The ROS burst remained unaffected in sdh2-1, emonstrating that subunit SDH2 is not involved in the control of ROS production and SA signaling by complex II. Moreover, the ndufs4 mutant showed only 20% of C. higginsianum colonization compared to wild type, with the ROS burst and the production of callose papillae being significantly increased compared to wild type. This indicates that a restriction of respiratory metabolism can positively affect pre-penetration resistance of Arabidopsis. Taking metabolite profiling data from all investigated mETC mutants, a strong positive correlation of resistance toward C. higginsianum with NADPH pool size, pyruvate contents, and other metabolites associated with redox poise and energy charge was evident, which fosters the hypothesis that limitations in the mETC can support resistance at post-penetration stages by improving the availability of metabolic power.

Acquiring control: The evolution of ROS-Induced oxidative stress and redox signaling pathways in plant stress responses

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) - the byproducts of aerobic metabolism - influence numerous aspects of the plant life cycle and environmental response mechanisms. In plants, ROS act like a double-edged sword; they play multiple beneficial roles at low concentrations, whereas at high concentrations ROS and related redox-active compounds cause cellular damage through oxidative stress. To examine the dual role of ROS as harmful oxidants and/or crucial cellular signals, this review elaborates that (i) how plants sense and respond to ROS in various subcellular organelles and (ii) the dynamics of subsequent ROS-induced signaling processes. The recent understanding of crosstalk between various cellular compartments in mediating their redox state spatially and temporally is discussed. Emphasis on the beneficial effects of ROS in maintaining cellular energy homeostasis, regulating diverse cellular functions, and activating acclimation responses in plants exposed to abiotic and biotic stresses are described. The comprehensive view of cellular ROS dynamics covering the breadth and versatility of ROS will contribute to understanding the complexity of apparently contradictory ROS roles in plant physiological responses in less than optimum environments.

Retrograde response by reactive oxygen/nitrogen species in plants involving different cellular organelles

During oxidative and nitrosative stress conditions cellular organelles convey information to the nucleus to express specific sets of genes to withstand the stress condition and to reorganize their growth and developmental pattern. This organelle to nucleus communication is termed retrograde signaling. In the plant system chloroplast and peroxisomes are mainly involved with little involvement of mitochondria and other organelles in oxidative stress-mediated retrograde signaling. In this review, we will discuss retrograde signaling in plant systems with factors that regulate this signaling cascade.

On a Cold Night: Transcriptomics of Grapevine Flower Unveils Signal Transduction and Impacted Metabolism

Low temperature is a critical environmental factor limiting plant productivity, especially in northern vineyards. To clarify the impact of this stress on grapevine flower, we used the Vitis array based on Roche-NimbleGen technology to investigate the gene expression of flowers submitted to a cold night. Our objectives were to identify modifications in the transcript levels after stress and during recovery. Consequently, our results confirmed some mechanisms known in grapes or other plants in response to cold stress, notably, (1) the pivotal role of calcium/calmodulin-mediated signaling; (2) the over-expression of sugar transporters and some genes involved in plant defense (especially in carbon metabolism), and (3) the down-regulation of genes encoding galactinol synthase (GOLS), pectate lyases, or polygalacturonases. We also identified some mechanisms not yet known to be involved in the response to cold stress, i.e., (1) the up-regulation of genes encoding G-type lectin S-receptor-like serine threonine-protein kinase, pathogen recognition receptor (PRR5), or heat-shock factors among others; (2) the down-regulation of Myeloblastosis (MYB)-related transcription factors and the Constans-like zinc finger family; and (3) the down-regulation of some genes encoding Pathogen-Related (PR)-proteins. Taken together, our results revealed interesting features and potentially valuable traits associated with stress responses in the grapevine flower. From a long-term perspective, our study provides useful starting points for future investigation.

ENHANCED DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY 1 (EDS1) affects development, photosynthesis, and hormonal homeostasis in hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. × P. tremuloides)

ENHANCED DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY 1 (EDS1) was first described as a protein involved in salicylic acid (SA)-, ethylene-, and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent defense and acclimation responses. It is a molecular regulator of biotic and abiotic stress-induced programmed cell death. Its role is relatively well known in annual plants, such as Arabidopsis thaliana or Nicotiana benthamiana. However, little is known about its functions in woody plants. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to characterize the function of EDS1 in the Populus tremula L. × P. tremuloides hybrid grown for several seasons in the natural environment. We used two transgenic lines, eds1-7 and eds1-12, with decreased EDS1 expression levels in this study. The observed changes in physiological and biochemical parameters corresponded with the EDS1 silencing level. Both transgenic lines produced more lateral shoots in comparison to the wild-type (WT) plants, which resulted in the modification of tree morphology. Photosynthetic parameters, such as quantum yield of photosystem II (ϕPSII), photochemical and non-photochemical quenching (qP and NPQ, respectively), as well as chlorophyll content were found to be increased in both transgenic lines, which resulted in changes in photosynthetic efficiency. Our data also revealed lower foliar concentrations of SA and ROS, the latter resulting most probably from more efficient antioxidant system in both transgenic lines. In addition, our data indicated significantly decreased rate of leaf senescence during several autumn seasons. Transcriptomic analysis revealed deregulation of 2215 and 376 genes in eds1-12 and eds1-7, respectively, and also revealed 207 genes that were commonly deregulated in both transgenic lines. The deregulation was primarily observed in the genes involved in photosynthesis, signaling, hormonal metabolism, and development, which was found to agree with the results of biochemical and physiological tests. In general, our data proved that poplar EDS1 affects tree morphology, photosynthetic efficiency, ROS and SA metabolism, as well as leaf senescence.

Friend or foe? Reactive oxygen species production, scavenging and signaling in plant response to environmental stresses

In the natural environment, plants are exposed to a variety of biotic and abiotic stress conditions that trigger rapid changes in the production and scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The production and scavenging of ROS is compartmentalized, which means that, depending on stimuli type, they can be generated and eliminated in different cellular compartments such as the apoplast, plasma membrane, chloroplasts, mitochondria, peroxisomes, and endoplasmic reticulum. Although the accumulation of ROS is generally harmful to cells, ROS play an important role in signaling pathways that regulate acclimatory and defense responses in plants, such as systemic acquired acclimation (SAA) and systemic acquired resistance (SAR). However, high accumulations of ROS can also trigger redox homeostasis disturbance which can lead to cell death, and in consequence, to a limitation in biomass and yield production. Different ROS have various half-lifetimes and degrees of reactivity toward molecular components such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Thus, they play different roles in intra- and extra-cellular signaling. Despite their possible damaging effect, ROS should mainly be considered as signaling molecules that regulate local and systemic acclimatory and defense responses. Over the past two decades it has been proven that ROS together with non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), hormones, Ca²⁺ waves, and electrical signals are the main players in SAA and SAR, two physiological processes essential for plant survival and productivity in unfavorable conditions.

ROS-dependent signalling pathways in plants and algae exposed to high light: Comparisons with other eukaryotes

Like all aerobic organisms, plants and algae co-opt reactive oxygen species (ROS) as signalling molecules to drive cellular responses to changes in their environment. In this respect, there is considerable commonality between all eukaryotes imposed by the constraints of ROS chemistry, similar metabolism in many subcellular compartments, the requirement for a high degree of signal specificity and the deployment of thiol peroxidases as transducers of oxidising equivalents to regulatory proteins. Nevertheless, plants and algae carry out specialised signalling arising from oxygenic photosynthesis in chloroplasts and photoautotropism, which often induce an imbalance between absorption of light energy and the capacity to use it productively. A key means of responding to this imbalance is through communication of chloroplasts with the nucleus to adjust cellular metabolism. Two ROS, singlet oxygen (¹O₂) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), initiate distinct signalling pathways when photosynthesis is perturbed. ¹O₂, because of its potent reactivity means that it initiates but does not transduce signalling. In contrast, the lower reactivity of H₂O₂ means that it can also be a mobile messenger in a spatially-defined signalling pathway. How plants translate a H₂O₂ message to bring about changes in gene expression is unknown and therefore, we draw on information from other eukaryotes to propose a working hypothesis. The role of these ROS generated in other subcellular compartments of plant cells in response to HL is critically considered alongside other eukaryotes. Finally, the responses of animal cells to oxidative stress upon high irradiance exposure is considered for new comparisons between plant and animal cells.

Activation of disease resistance against Botryosphaeria dothidea by downregulating the expression of MdSYP121 in apple

In plants, the vesicle fusion process plays a vital role in pathogen defence. However, the importance of the vesicle fusion process in apple ring rot has not been studied. Here, we isolated and characterised the apple syntaxin gene MdSYP121. Silencing the MdSYP121 gene in transgenic apple calli increased tolerance to Botryosphaeria dothidea infection; this increased tolerance was correlated with salicylic acid (SA) synthesis-related and signalling-related gene transcription. In contrast, overexpressing MdSYP121 in apple calli resulted in the opposite phenotypes. In addition, the results of RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assays suggested that MdSYP121 plays an important role in responses to oxidation-reduction reactions. Silencing MdSYP121 in apple calli enhanced the expression levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related genes and the activity of ROS-related enzymes. The enhanced defence response status in MdSYP121-RNAi lines suggests that syntaxins are involved in the defence response to B. dothidea. More importantly, we showed that MdSYP121 forms a soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex with MdSNAP33, and the complex may participate in regulating resistance to B. dothidea. In conclusion, by regulating the interaction of SA pathway and oxidation-reduction process, MdSYP121 can influence the pathogen infection process in apple.

Singlet oxygen triggers chloroplast rupture and cell death in the zeaxanthin epoxidase defective mutant aba1 of Arabidopsis thaliana under high light stress

The two Arabidopsis thaliana mutants, aba1 and max4, were previously identified as sharing a number of co-regulated genes with both the flu mutant and Arabidopsis cell suspension cultures exposed to high light (HL). On this basis, we investigated whether aba1 and max4 were generating high amounts of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) and activating ¹O₂-mediated cell death. Thylakoids of aba1 produced twice as much ¹O₂ as thylakoids of max4 and wild type (WT) plants when illuminated with strong red light. ¹O₂ was measured using the spin probe 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidone hydrochloride. 77-K chlorophyll fluorescence emission spectra of thylakoids revealed lower aggregation of the light harvesting complex II in aba1. This was rationalized as a loss of connectivity between photosystem II (PSII) units and as the main cause for the high yield of ¹O₂ generation in aba1. Up-regulation of the ¹O₂ responsive gene AAA-ATPase was only observed with statistical significant in aba1 under HL. Two early jasmonate (JA)-responsive genes, JAZ1 and JAZ5, encoding for two repressor proteins involved in the negative feedback regulation of JA signalling, were not up-regulated to the WT plant levels. Chloroplast aggregation followed by chloroplast rupture and eventual cell death was observed by confocal imaging of the fluorescence emission of leaf cells of transgenic aba1 plants expressing the chimeric fusion protein SSU-GFP. Cell death was not associated with direct ¹O₂ cytotoxicity in aba1, but rather with a delayed stress response. In contrast, max4 did not show evidence of ¹O₂-mediated cell death. In conclusion, aba1 may serve as an alternative model to other ¹O₂-overproducing mutants of Arabidopsis for investigating ¹O₂-mediated cell death.

Metabolic and transcriptomic changes induced in host during hypersensitive response mediated resistance in rice against the Asian rice gall midge

BACKGROUND

An incompatible interaction between rice (Oryza sativa) and the Asian rice gall midge (AGM, Orseolia oryzae Wood-Mason), that is usually manifested through a hypersensitive response (HR), represents an intricate relationship between the resistant host and its avirulent pest. We investigated changes in the transcriptome and metabolome of the host (indica rice variety: RP2068-18-3-5, RP), showing HR when attacked by an avirulent gall midge biotype (GMB1), to deduce molecular and biochemical bases of such a complex interaction. Till now, such an integrated analysis of host transcriptome and metabolome has not been reported for any rice-insect interaction.

RESULTS

Transcript and metabolic profiling data revealed more than 7000 differentially expressed genes and 80 differentially accumulated metabolites, respectively, in the resistant host. Microarray data revealed deregulation of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) metabolism causing a C/N shift; up-regulation of tetrapyrrole synthesis and down-regulation of chlorophyll synthesis and photosynthesis. Integrated results revealed that genes involved in lipid peroxidation (LPO) were up-regulated and a marker metabolite for LPO (azelaic acid) accumulated during HR. This coincided with a greater accumulation of GABA (neurotransmitter and an insect antifeedant) at the feeding site. Validation of microarray results by semi-quantitative RT-PCR revealed temporal variation in gene expression profiles.

CONCLUSIONS

The study revealed extensive reprogramming of the transcriptome and metabolome of RP upon GMB1 infestation leading to an HR that was induced by the generation and release of reactive oxygen species i.e. singlet oxygen and resulted in LPO-mediated cell death. RP thus used HR as a means to limit nutrient supply to the feeding maggots and simultaneously accumulated GABA, strategies that could have led to maggot mortality. The integrated results of transcript and metabolic profiling, for the first time, provided insights into an HR+ type of resistance in rice against gall midge.

Effector-Triggered Immune Response in Arabidopsis thaliana Is a Quantitative Trait

We identified loci responsible for natural variation in Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) responses to a bacterial pathogen virulence factor, HopAM1. HopAM1 is a type III effector protein secreted by the virulent Pseudomonas syringae strain Pto DC3000. Delivery of HopAM1 from disarmed Pseudomonas strains leads to local cell death, meristem chlorosis, or both, with varying intensities in different Arabidopsis accessions. These phenotypes are not associated with differences in bacterial growth restriction. We treated the two phenotypes as quantitative traits to identify host loci controlling responses to HopAM1. Genome-wide association (GWA) of 64 Arabidopsis accessions identified independent variants highly correlated with response to each phenotype. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in a recombinant inbred population between Bur-0 and Col-0 accessions revealed genetic linkage to regions distinct from the top GWA hits. Two major QTL associated with HopAM1-induced cell death were also associated with HopAM1-induced chlorosis. HopAM1-induced changes in Arabidopsis gene expression showed that rapid HopAM1-dependent cell death in Bur-0 is correlated with effector-triggered immune responses. Studies of the effect of mutations in known plant immune system genes showed, surprisingly, that both cell death and chlorosis phenotypes are enhanced by loss of EDS1, a regulatory hub in the plant immune-signaling network. Our results reveal complex genetic architecture for response to this particular type III virulence effector, in contrast to the typical monogenic control of cell death and disease resistance triggered by most type III effectors.

Spreading the news: subcellular and organellar reactive oxygen species production and signalling

As plants are sessile organisms that have to attune their physiology and morphology continuously to varying environmental challenges in order to survive and reproduce, they have evolved complex and integrated environment-cell, cell-cell, and cell-organelle signalling circuits that regulate and trigger the required adjustments (such as alteration of gene expression). Although reactive oxygen species (ROS) are essential components of this network, their pathways are not yet completely unravelled. In addition to the intrinsic chemical properties that define the array of interaction partners, mobility, and stability, ROS signalling specificity is obtained via the spatiotemporal control of production and scavenging at different organellar and subcellular locations (e.g. chloroplasts, mitochondria, peroxisomes, and apoplast). Furthermore, these cellular compartments may crosstalk to relay and further fine-tune the ROS message. Hence, plant cells might locally and systemically react upon environmental or developmental challenges by generating spatiotemporally controlled dosages of certain ROS types, each with specific chemical properties and interaction targets, that are influenced by interorganellar communication and by the subcellular location and distribution of the involved organelles, to trigger the suitable acclimation responses in association with other well-established cellular signalling components (e.g. reactive nitrogen species, phytohormones, and calcium ions). Further characterization of this comprehensive ROS signalling matrix may result in the identification of new targets and key regulators of ROS signalling, which might be excellent candidates for engineering or breeding stress-tolerant plants.

Membrane-Associated Ubiquitin Ligase SAUL1 Suppresses Temperature- and Humidity-Dependent Autoimmunity in Arabidopsis

Plants have evolved elaborate mechanisms to regulate pathogen defense. Imbalances in this regulation may result in autoimmune responses that are affecting plant growth and development. In Arabidopsis, SAUL1 encodes a plant U-box ubiquitin ligase and regulates senescence and cell death. Here, we show that saul1-1 plants exhibit characteristics of an autoimmune mutant. A decrease in relative humidity or temperature resulted in reduced growth and systemic lesioning of saul1-1 rosettes. These physiological changes are associated with increased expression of salicylic acid-dependent and pathogenesis-related (PR) genes. Consistently, resistance of saul1-1 plants against Pseudomonas syringae pv. maculicola ES4326, P. syringae pv. tomato DC3000, or Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis Noco2 was enhanced. Transmission electron microscopy revealed alterations in saul1-1 chloroplast ultrastructure and cell-wall depositions. Confocal analysis on aniline blue-stained leaf sections and cellular universal micro spectrophotometry further showed that these cell-wall depositions contain callose and lignin. To analyze signaling downstream of SAUL1, we performed epistasis analyses between saul1-1 and mutants in the EDS1/PAD4/SAG101 hub. All phenotypes observed in saul1-1 plants at low temperature were dependent on EDS1 and PAD4 but not SAG101. Taken together, SAUL1 negatively regulates immunity upstream of EDS1/PAD4, likely through the degradation of an unknown activator of the pathway.

A pair of light signaling factors FHY3 and FAR1 regulates plant immunity by modulating chlorophyll biosynthesis

Light and chloroplast function is known to affect the plant immune response; however, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. We previously demonstrated that two light signaling factors, FAR-RED ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 3 (FHY3) and FAR-RED IMPAIRED RESPONSE 1 (FAR1), regulate chlorophyll biosynthesis and seedling growth via controlling HEMB1 expression in Arabidopsis thaliana. In this study, we reveal that FHY3 and FAR1 are involved in modulating plant immunity. We showed that the fhy3 far1 double null mutant displayed high levels of reactive oxygen species and salicylic acid (SA) and increased resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pathogen infection. Microarray analysis revealed that a large proportion of pathogen-related genes, particularly genes encoding nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat domain resistant proteins, are highly induced in fhy3 far1. Genetic studies indicated that the defects of fhy3 far1 can be largely rescued by reducing SA signaling or blocking SA accumulation, and by overexpression of HEMB1, which encodes a 5-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase in the chlorophyll biosynthetic pathway. Furthermore, we found that transgenic plants with reduced expression of HEMB1 exhibit a phenotype similar to fhy3 far1. Taken together, this study demonstrates an important role of FHY3 and FAR1 in regulating plant immunity, through integrating chlorophyll biosynthesis and the SA signaling pathway.

Licensed to Kill: Mitochondria, Chloroplasts, and Cell Death

Programmed cell death (PCD) is crucial in plant organogenesis and survival. In this review the involvement of mitochondria and chloroplasts in PCD execution is critically assessed. Recent findings support a central role for mitochondria in PCD, with newly identified components of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (mETC), FOF1 ATP synthase, cardiolipins, and ATPase AtOM66. While chloroplasts received less attention, their contribution to PCD is well supported, suggesting that they possibly contribute by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the presence of light or even contribute through cytochrome f release. Finally we discuss two working models where mitochondria and chloroplasts could cooperatively execute PCD: mitochondria initiate the commitment steps and recruit chloroplasts for swift execution or, alternatively, mitochondria and chloroplasts could operate in parallel.

Key players of singlet oxygen-induced cell death in plants

The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is an unavoidable consequence of oxygenic photosynthesis. Singlet oxygen ((1)O2) is a highly reactive species to which has been attributed a major destructive role during the execution of ROS-induced cell death in photosynthetic tissues exposed to excess light. The study of the specific biological activity of (1)O2 in plants has been hindered by its high reactivity and short lifetime, the concurrent production of other ROS under photooxidative stress, and limited in vivo detection methods. However, during the last 15 years, the isolation and characterization of two (1)O2-overproducing mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana, flu and ch1, has allowed the identification of genetically controlled (1)O2 cell death pathways and a (1)O2 acclimation pathway that are triggered at sub-cytotoxic concentrations of (1)O2. The study of flu has revealed the control of cell death by the plastid proteins EXECUTER (EX)1 and EX2. In ch1, oxidized derivatives of β-carotene, such as β-cyclocitral and dihydroactinidiolide, have been identified as important upstream messengers in the (1)O2 signaling pathway that leads to stress acclimation. In both the flu and ch1 mutants, phytohormones act as important promoters or inhibitors of cell death. In particular, jasmonate has emerged as a key player in the decision between acclimation and cell death in response to (1)O2. Although the flu and ch1 mutants show many similarities, especially regarding their gene expression profiles, key differences, such as EXECUTER-independent cell death in ch1, have also been observed and will need further investigation to be fully understood.

Plant innate immunity--sunny side up?

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)- and calcium- dependent signaling pathways play well-established roles during plant innate immunity. Chloroplasts host major biosynthetic pathways and have central roles in energy production, redox homeostasis, and retrograde signaling. However, the organelle's importance in immunity has been somehow overlooked. Recent findings suggest that the chloroplast also has an unanticipated function as a hub for ROS- and calcium-signaling that affects immunity responses at an early stage after pathogen attack. In this opinion article, we discuss a chloroplastic calcium-ROS signaling branch of plant innate immunity. We propose that this chloroplastic branch acts as a light-dependent rheostat that, through the production of ROS, influences the severity of the immune response.

Arabidopsis ENHANCED DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY1 promotes systemic acquired resistance via azelaic acid and its precursor 9-oxo nonanoic acid

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is a form of inducible disease resistance that depends on salicylic acid and its upstream regulator ENHANCED DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY1 (EDS1). Although local Arabidopsis thaliana defence responses activated by the Pseudomonas syringae effector protein AvrRpm1 are intact in eds1 mutant plants, SAR signal generation is abolished. Here, the SAR-specific phenotype of the eds1 mutant is utilized to identify metabolites that contribute to SAR. To this end, SAR bioassay-assisted fractionation of extracts from the wild type compared with eds1 mutant plants that conditionally express AvrRpm1 was performed. Using high-performance liquid chromatography followed by mass spectrometry, systemic immunity was associated with the accumulation of 60 metabolites, including the putative SAR signal azelaic acid (AzA) and its precursors 9-hydroperoxy octadecadienoic acid (9-HPOD) and 9-oxo nonanoic acid (ONA). Exogenous ONA induced SAR in systemic untreated leaves when applied at a 4-fold lower concentration than AzA. The data suggest that in planta oxidation of ONA to AzA might be partially responsible for this response and provide further evidence that AzA mobilizes Arabidopsis immunity in a concentration-dependent manner. The AzA fragmentation product pimelic acid did not induce SAR. The results link the C9 lipid peroxidation products ONA and AzA with systemic rather than local resistance and suggest that EDS1 directly or indirectly promotes the accumulation of ONA, AzA, or one or more of their common precursors possibly by activating one or more pathways that either result in the release of these compounds from galactolipids or promote lipid peroxidation.

Programmed cell death activated by Rose Bengal in Arabidopsis thaliana cell suspension cultures requires functional chloroplasts

Light-grown Arabidopsis thaliana cell suspension culture (ACSC) were subjected to mild photooxidative damage with Rose Bengal (RB) with the aim of gaining a better understanding of singlet oxygen-mediated defence responses in plants. Additionally, ACSC were treated with H2O2 at concentrations that induced comparable levels of protein oxidation damage. Under low to medium light conditions, both RB and H2O2 treatments activated transcriptional defence responses and inhibited photosynthetic activity, but they differed in that programmed cell death (PCD) was only observed in cells treated with RB. When dark-grown ACSC were subjected to RB in the light, PCD was suppressed, indicating that the singlet oxygen-mediated signalling pathway in ACSC requires functional chloroplasts. Analysis of up-regulated transcripts in light-grown ACSC, treated with RB in the light, showed that both singlet oxygen-responsive transcripts and transcripts with a key role in hormone-activated PCD (i.e. ethylene and jasmonic acid) were present. A co-regulation analysis proved that ACSC treated with RB exhibited higher correlation with the conditional fluorescence (flu) mutant than with other singlet oxygen-producing mutants or wild-type plants subjected to high light. However, there was no evidence for the up-regulation of EDS1, suggesting that activation of PCD was not associated with the EXECUTER- and EDS1-dependent signalling pathway described in the flu mutant. Indigo Carmine and Methylene Violet, two photosensitizers unable to enter chloroplasts, did not activate transcriptional defence responses in ACSC; however, whether this was due to their location or to their inherently low singlet oxygen quantum efficiencies was not determined.

Molecular cloning and characterization of enhanced disease susceptibility 1 (EDS1) from Gossypium barbadense

Arabidopsis enhanced disease susceptibility 1 (EDS1) plays an important role in plant defense against biotrophic and necrotrophic pathogens. The necrotrophic pathogen Verticillium dahliae infection of Gossypium barbadense could lead to Verticillium wilt which seriously reduces the cotton production. Here, we cloned and characterized a G. barbadense homolog of EDS1, designated as GbEDS1. The full-length cDNA of the GbEDS1 gene was obtained by the technique of rapid-amplification of cDNA ends. The open reading frame of the GbEDS1 gene was 1,647 bp long and encoded a protein of 548 amino acids residues. Comparison of the cDNA and genomic DNA sequence of GbEDS1 indicated that this gene contained a single intron and two exons. Like other EDS1s, GbEDS1 contained a conserved N-terminal lipase domain and an EDS1-specific KNEDT motif. Subcellular localization assay revealed that GbEDS1-green fluorescence protein fusion protein was localized in both cytosol and nucleus. Interestingly, the transcript levels of GbEDS1 were dramatically increased in response to pathogen V. dahliae infection. To investigate the role of GbEDS1 in plant resistance against V. dahliae, a conserved fragment derived from GbEDS1 was used to knockdown the endogenous EDS1 in Nicotiana benthamiana by heterologous virus-induced gene silencing. Our data showed that silencing of NbEDS1 resulted in increased susceptibility to V. dahliae infection in N. benthamiana, suggesting a possible involvement of the novelly isolated GbEDS1 in the regulation of plant defense against V. dahliae.

Singlet oxygen-mediated signaling in plants: moving from flu to wild type reveals an increasing complexity

Singlet oxygen ((1)O2)-mediated signaling has been established in the conditional fluorescent (flu) mutant of Arabidopsis. In the dark, the flu mutant accumulates free protochlorophyllide (Pchlide), a photosensitizer that in the light generates (1)O2. The release of (1)O2 leads to growth inhibition of mature plants and bleaching of seedlings. These (1)O2-mediated responses depend on two plastid proteins, EXECUTER (EX) 1 and 2. An ex1/ex2/flu mutant accumulates in the dark Pchlide and upon illumination generates similar amounts of (1)O2 as flu, but (1)O2-mediated responses are abrogated in the triple mutant. The (1)O2- and EX-dependent signaling pathway operates also in wild type placed under light stress. However, it does not act alone as in flu, but interacts with other signaling pathways that modulate (1)O2-mediated responses. Depending on how severe the light stress is, (1)O2- and EX-dependent signaling may be superimposed by (1)O2-mediated signaling that does not depend on EX and is associated with photo-oxidative damage. Because of its high reactivity and short half-life, (1)O2 is unlikely to be a signal that is translocated across the chloroplast envelope, but is likely to interact with other plastid components close to its site of production and to generate more stable signaling molecules during this interaction. Depending on the site of (1)O2 production and the severity of stress, different signaling molecules may be expected that give rise to different (1)O2-mediated responses.

A TIR-NBS protein encoded by Arabidopsis Chilling Sensitive 1 (CHS1) limits chloroplast damage and cell death at low temperature

Survival of plants at low temperature depends on mechanisms for limiting physiological damage and maintaining growth. We mapped the chs1-1 (chilling sensitive1-1) mutation in Arabidopsis accession Columbia to the TIR-NBS gene At1g17610. In chs1-1, a single amino acid exchange at the CHS1 N-terminus close to the conserved TIR domain creates a stable mutant protein that fails to protect leaves against chilling stress. The sequence of another TIR-NBS gene (At5g40090) named CHL1 (CHS1-like 1) is related to that of CHS1. Over-expression of CHS1 or CHL1 alleviates chilling damage and enhances plant growth at moderate (24°C) and chilling (13°C) temperatures, suggesting a role for both proteins in growth homeostasis. chs1-1 mutants show induced salicylic acid production and defense gene expression at 13°C, indicative of autoimmunity. Genetic analysis of chs1-1 in combination with defense pathway mutants shows that chs1-1 chilling sensitivity requires the TIR-NBS-LRR and basal resistance regulators encoded by EDS1 and PAD4 but not salicylic acid. By following the timing of metabolic, physiological and chloroplast ultrastructural changes in chs1-1 leaves during chilling, we have established that alterations in photosynthetic complexes and thylakoid membrane integrity precede leaf cell death measured by ion leakage. At 24°C, the chs1-1 mutant appears normal but produces a massive necrotic response to virulent Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato infection, although this does not affect bacterial proliferation. Our results suggest that CHS1 acts at an intersection between temperature sensing and biotic stress pathway activation to maintain plant performance over a range of conditions.

Feeding by whiteflies suppresses downstream jasmonic acid signaling by eliciting salicylic acid signaling

Phloem-feeding whiteflies in the species complex Bemisia tabaci cause extensive crop damage worldwide. One of the reasons for their "success" is their ability to suppress the effectual jasmonic acid (JA) defenses of the host plant. However, little is understood about the mechanisms underlying whitefly suppression of JA-regulated defenses. Here, we showed that the expression of salicylic acid (SA)-responsive genes (EDS1 and PR1) in Arabidopsis thaliana was significantly enhanced during feeding by whitefly nymphs. Whereas upstream JA-responsive genes (LOX2 and OPR3) also were induced, the downstream JA-responsive gene (VSP1) was repressed, i.e., whiteflies only suppressed downstream JA signaling. Gene-expression analyses with various Arabidopsis mutants, including NahG, npr-1, ein2-1, and dde2-2, revealed that SA signaling plays a key role in the suppression of downstream JA defenses by whitefly feeding. Assays confirmed that SA activation enhanced whitefly performance by suppressing downstream JA defenses.

Light-induced acclimation of the Arabidopsis chlorina1 mutant to singlet oxygen

Singlet oxygen (¹O₂) is a reactive oxygen species that can function as a stress signal in plant leaves leading to programmed cell death. In microalgae, ¹O₂-induced transcriptomic changes result in acclimation to ¹O₂. Here, using a chlorophyll b-less Arabidopsis thaliana mutant (chlorina1 [ch1]), we show that this phenomenon can also occur in vascular plants. The ch1 mutant is highly photosensitive due to a selective increase in the release of ¹O₂ by photosystem II. Under photooxidative stress conditions, the gene expression profile of ch1 mutant leaves very much resembled the gene responses to ¹O₂ reported in the Arabidopsis mutant flu. Preexposure of ch1 plants to moderately elevated light intensities eliminated photooxidative damage without suppressing ¹O₂ formation, indicating acclimation to ¹O₂. Substantial differences in gene expression were observed between acclimation and high-light stress: A number of transcription factors were selectively induced by acclimation, and contrasting effects were observed for the jasmonate pathway. Jasmonate biosynthesis was strongly induced in ch1 mutant plants under high-light stress and was noticeably repressed under acclimation conditions, suggesting the involvement of this hormone in ¹O₂-induced cell death. This was confirmed by the decreased tolerance to photooxidative damage of jasmonate-treated ch1 plants and by the increased tolerance of the jasmonate-deficient mutant delayed-dehiscence2.

Jasmonate: A decision maker between cell death and acclimation in the response of plants to singlet oxygen

Under stress conditions that bring about excessive absorption of light energy in the chloroplasts, the formation of singlet oxygen ( (1)O2) can be strongly enhanced, triggering programmed cell death. However, the (1)O2 signaling pathway can also lead to acclimation to photooxidative stress, when (1)O2 is produced in relatively low amounts. This acclimatory response is associated with a strong downregulation of the jasmonate biosynthesis pathway and the maintenance of low jasmonate levels, even under high light stress conditions that normally induce jasmonate synthesis. These findings suggest a central role for this phytohormone in the orientation of the (1)O2 signaling pathway toward cell death or acclimation. This conclusion is confirmed here in an Arabidopsis double mutant obtained by crossing the (1)O2-overproducing mutant ch1 and the jasmonate-deficient mutant dde2. This double mutant was found to be constitutively resistant to (1)O2 stress and to display a strongly stimulated growth rate compared with the single ch1 mutant. However, the involvement of other phytohormones, such as ethylene, cannot be excluded.

Island cotton Gbve1 gene encoding a receptor-like protein confers resistance to both defoliating and non-defoliating isolates of Verticillium dahliae

Verticillium wilt caused by soilborne fungus Verticillium dahliae could significantly reduce cotton yield. Here, we cloned a tomato Ve homologous gene, Gbve1, from an island cotton cultivar that is resistant to Verticillium wilt. We found that the Gbve1 gene was induced by V. dahliae and by phytohormones salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and ethylene, but not by abscisic acid. The induction of Gbve1 in resistant cotton was quicker and stronger than in Verticillium-susceptible upland cotton following V. dahliae inoculation. Gbve1 promoter-driving GUS activity was found exclusively in the vascular bundles of roots and stems of transgenic Arabidopsis. Virus-induced silencing of endogenous genes in resistant cotton via targeting a fragment of the Gbve1 gene compromised cotton resistance to V. dahliae. Furthermore, we transformed the Gbve1 gene into Arabidopsis and upland cotton through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Overexpression of the Gbve1 gene endowed transgenic Arabidopsis and upland cotton with resistance to high aggressive defoliating and non-defoliating isolates of V. dahliae. And HR-mimic cell death was observed in the transgenic Arabidopsis. Our results demonstrate that the Gbve1 gene is responsible for resistance to V. dahliae in island cotton and can be used for breeding cotton varieties that are resistant to Verticillium wilt.

Early senescence and cell death in Arabidopsis saul1 mutants involves the PAD4-dependent salicylic acid pathway

Age-dependent leaf senescence and cell death in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) requires activation of the transcription factor ORESARA1 (ORE1) and is not initiated prior to a leaf age of 28 d. Here, we investigate the conditional execution of events that regulate early senescence and cell death in senescence-associated ubiquitin ligase1 (saul1) mutants, deficient in the PLANT U-BOX-ARMADILLO E3 ubiquitin ligase SAUL1. In saul1 mutants challenged with low light, the switch of age-dependent cell death was turned on prematurely, as indicated by the accumulation of ORE1 transcripts, induction of the senescence marker gene SENESCENCE-ASSOCIATED GENE12, and cell death. However, ORE1 accumulation by itself was not sufficient to cause saul1 phenotypes, as demonstrated by double mutant analysis. Exposure of saul1 mutants to low light for only 24 h did not result in visible symptoms of senescence; however, the senescence-promoting transcription factor genes WRKY53, WRKY6, and NAC-LIKE ACTIVATED BY AP3/PI were up-regulated, indicating that senescence in saul1 seedlings was already initiated. To resolve the time course of gene expression, microarray experiments were performed at narrow intervals. Differential expression of the genes involved in salicylic acid and defense mechanisms were the earliest events detected, suggesting a central role for salicylic acid in saul1 senescence and cell death. The salicylic acid content increased in low-light-treated saul1 mutants, and application of exogenous salicylic acid was indeed sufficient to trigger saul1 senescence in permissive light conditions. Double mutant analyses showed that PHYTOALEXIN DEFICIENT4 (PAD4) but not NONEXPRESSER OF PR GENES1 (NPR1) is essential for saul1 phenotypes. Our results indicate that saul1 senescence depends on the PAD4-dependent salicylic acid pathway but does not require NPR1 signaling.

Chloroplast-mediated activation of plant immune signalling in Arabidopsis

Chloroplasts have a critical role in plant immunity as a site for the production for salicylic acid and jasmonic acid, important mediators of plant immunity. However, the molecular link between chloroplasts and the cytoplasmic-nuclear immune system remains largely unknown. Here we show that pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) signals are quickly relayed to chloroplasts and evoke specific Ca(2+) signatures in the stroma. We further demonstrate that a chloroplast-localized protein, named calcium-sensing receptor (CAS), is involved in stromal Ca(2+) transients and responsible for both PAMP-induced basal resistance and R gene-mediated hypersensitive cell death. CAS acts upstream of salicylic acid accumulation. Transcriptome analysis demonstrates that CAS is involved in PAMP-induced expression of defence genes and suppression of chloroplast gene expression possibly through (1)O(2)-mediated retrograde signalling, allowing chloroplast-mediated transcriptional reprogramming during plant immune responses. The present study reveals a previously unknown chloroplast-mediated signalling pathway linking chloroplasts to cytoplasmic-nuclear immune responses.

Minimal influence of G-protein null mutations on ozone-induced changes in gene expression, foliar injury, gas exchange and peroxidase activity in Arabidopsis thaliana L

Ozone (O(3)) uptake by plants leads to an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the intercellular space of leaves and induces signalling processes reported to involve the membrane-bound heterotrimeric G-protein complex. Therefore, potential G-protein-mediated response mechanisms to O(3) were compared between Arabidopsis thaliana L. lines with null mutations in the α- and β-subunits (gpa1-4, agb1-2 and gpa1-4/agb1-2) and Col-0 wild-type plants. Plants were treated with a range of O(3) concentrations (5, 125, 175 and 300 nL L(-1)) for 1 and 2 d in controlled environment chambers. Transcript levels of GPA1, AGB1 and RGS1 transiently increased in Col-0 exposed to 125 nL L(-1) O(3) compared with the 5 nL L(-1) control treatment. However, silencing of α and β G-protein genes resulted in little alteration of many processes associated with O(3) injury, including the induction of ROS-signalling genes, increased leaf tissue ion leakage, decreased net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, and increased peroxidase activity, especially in the leaf apoplast. These results indicated that many responses to O(3) stress at physiological levels were not detectably influenced by α and β G-proteins.

EDS1 contributes to nonhost resistance of Arabidopsis thaliana against Erwinia amylovora

Erwinia amylovora causes fire blight in rosaceous plants. In nonhost Arabidopsis thaliana, E. amylovora triggers necrotic symptoms associated with transient bacterial multiplication, suggesting either that A. thaliana lacks a susceptibility factor or that it actively restricts E. amylovora growth. Inhibiting plant protein synthesis at the time of infection led to an increase in necrosis and bacterial multiplication and reduced callose deposition, indicating that A. thaliana requires active protein synthesis to restrict E. amylovora growth. Analysis of the callose synthase-deficient pmr4-1 mutant indicated that lack of callose deposition alone did not lead to increased sensitivity to E. amylovora. Transcriptome analysis revealed that approximately 20% of the genes induced following E. amylovora infection are related to defense and signaling. Analysis of mutants affected in NDR1 and EDS1, two main components of the defense-gene activation observed, revealed that E. amylovora multiplied ten times more in the eds1-2 mutant than in the wild type but not in the ndr1-1 mutant. Analysis of mutants affected in three WRKY transcription factors showing EDS1-dependent activation identified WRKY46 and WRKY54 as positive regulators and WRKY70 as a negative regulator of defense against E. amylovora. Altogether, we show that EDS1 is a positive regulator of nonhost resistance against E. amylovora in A. thaliana and hypothesize that it controls the production of several effective defenses against E. amylovora through the action of WRKY46 and WRKY54, while WRKY70 acts as a negative regulator.

Photosynthesis, photorespiration, and light signalling in defence responses

Visible light is the basic energetic driver of plant biomass production through photosynthesis. The constantly fluctuating availability of light and other environmental factors means that the photosynthetic apparatus must be able to operate in a dynamic fashion appropriate to the prevailing conditions. Dynamic regulation is achieved through an array of homeostatic control mechanisms that both respond to and influence cellular energy and reductant status. In addition, light availability and quality are continuously monitored by plants through photoreceptors. Outside the laboratory growth room, it is within the context of complex changes in energy and signalling status that plants must regulate pathways to deal with biotic challenges, and this can be influenced by changes in the highly energetic photosynthetic pathways and in the turnover of the photosynthetic machinery. Because of this, defence responses are neither simple nor easily predictable, but rather conditioned by the nutritional and signalling status of the plant cell. This review discusses recent data and emerging concepts of how recognized defence pathways interact with and are influenced by light-dependent processes. Particular emphasis is placed on the potential roles of the chloroplast, photorespiration, and photoreceptor-associated pathways in regulating the outcome of interactions between plants and pathogenic organisms.

Does singlet oxygen activate cell death in Arabidopsis cell suspension cultures?: analysis of the early transcriptional defense responses to high light stress

Can Arabidopsis cell suspension cultures (ACSC) provide a useful working model to investigate genetically-controlled defense responses with signaling cascades starting in chloroplasts? In order to provide a convincing answer, we analyzed the early transcriptional profile of Arabidopsis cells at high light (HL). The results showed that ACSC respond to HL in a manner that resembles the singlet oxygen ((1)O(2))-mediated defense responses described for the conditional fluorescent (flu) mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana. The flu mutant is characterized by the accumulation of free protochlorophyllide (Pchlide) in plastids when put into darkness and the subsequent production of (1)O(2) when the light is on. In ACSC, (1)O(2) is produced in chloroplasts at HL when excess excitation energy flows into photosystem II (PSII). Other reactive oxygen species are also produced in ACSC at HL, but to a lesser extent. When the HL stress ceases, ACSC recovers the initial rate of oxygen evolution and cell growth continues. We can conclude that chloroplasts of ACSC are both photosynthetically active and capable of initiating (1)O(2)-mediated signaling cascades that activate a broad range of genetically-controlled defense responses. The upregulation of transcripts associated with the biosynthesis and signaling pathways of OPDA (12-oxophytodienoic acid) and ethylene (ET) suggests that the activated defense responses at HL are governed by these two hormones. In contrast to the flu mutant, the (1)O(2)-mediated defense responses were independent of the upregulation of EDS1 (enhanced disease susceptibility) required for the accumulation of salicylic acid (SA) and genetically-controlled cell death. Interestingly, a high correlation in transcriptional expression was also observed between ACSC at HL, and the aba1 and max4 mutants of Arabidopsis, characterized by defects in the biosynthesis pathways of abscisic acid (ABA) and strigolactones, respectively.