Adrien Gauthier

Carbohydrates in plant immunity and plant protection: roles and potential application as foliar sprays

Increasing interest is devoted to carbohydrates for their roles in plant immunity. Some of them are elicitors of plant defenses whereas other ones act as signaling molecules in a manner similar to phytohormones. This review first describes the main classes of carbohydrates associated to plant immunity, their role and mode of action. More precisely, the state of the art about perception of “PAMP, MAMP, and DAMP (Pathogen-, Microbe-, Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns) type” oligosaccharides is presented and examples of induced defense events are provided. A particular attention is paid to the structure/activity relationships of these compounds. The role of sugars as signaling molecules, especially in plant microbe interactions, is also presented. Secondly, the potentialities and limits of foliar sprays of carbohydrates to stimulate plant immunity for crop protection against diseases are discussed, with focus on the roles of the leaf cuticle and phyllosphere microflora.

GRIM REAPER peptide binds to receptor kinase PRK5 to trigger cell death in Arabidopsis.

Recognition of extracellular peptides by plasma membrane‐localized receptor proteins is commonly used in signal transduction. In plants, very little is known about how extracellular peptides are processed and activated in order to allow recognition by receptors. Here, we show that induction of cell death in planta by a secreted plant protein GRIM REAPER (GRI) is dependent on the activity of the type II metacaspase METACASPASE‐9. GRI is cleaved by METACASPASE‐9 in vitro resulting in the release of an 11 amino acid peptide. This peptide bound in vivo to the extracellular domain of the plasma membrane‐localized, atypical leucine‐rich repeat receptor‐like kinase POLLEN‐SPECIFIC RECEPTOR‐LIKE KINASE 5 (PRK5) and was sufficient to induce oxidative stress/ROS‐dependent cell death. This shows a signaling pathway in plants from processing and activation of an extracellular protein to recognition by its receptor.

Large-Scale Phenomics Identifies Primary and Fine-Tuning Roles for CRKs in Responses Related to Oxidative Stress

Cysteine-rich receptor-like kinases (CRKs) are transmembrane proteins characterized by the presence of two domains of unknown function 26 (DUF26) in their ectodomain. The CRKs form one of the largest groups of receptor-like protein kinases in plants, but their biological functions have so far remained largely uncharacterized. We conducted a large-scale phenotyping approach of a nearly complete crk T-DNA insertion line collection showing that CRKs control important aspects of plant development and stress adaptation in response to biotic and abiotic stimuli in a non-redundant fashion. In particular, the analysis of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related stress responses, such as regulation of the stomatal aperture, suggests that CRKs participate in ROS/redox signalling and sensing. CRKs play general and fine-tuning roles in the regulation of stomatal closure induced by microbial and abiotic cues. Despite their great number and high similarity, large-scale phenotyping identified specific functions in diverse processes for many CRKs and indicated that CRK2 and CRK5 play predominant roles in growth regulation and stress adaptation, respectively. As a whole, the CRKs contribute to specificity in ROS signalling. Individual CRKs control distinct responses in an antagonistic fashion suggesting future potential for using CRKs in genetic approaches to improve plant performance and stress tolerance.

The Arabidopsis thaliana cysteine-rich receptor-like kinases CRK6 and CRK7 protect against apoplastic oxidative stress

Receptor-like kinases are important regulators of many different processes in plants. Despite their large number only a few have been functionally characterized. One of the largest subgroups of receptor-like kinases in Arabidopsis is the cysteine-rich receptor like kinases (CRKs). High sequence similarity among the CRKs has been suggested as major cause for functional redundancy. The genomic localization of CRK genes in back-to-back repeats has made their characterization through mutant analysis unpractical. Expression profiling has linked the CRKs with reactive oxygen species, important signaling molecules in plants. Here we have investigated the role of two CRKs, CRK6 and CRK7, and analyzed their role in extracellular ROS signaling. CRK6 and CRK7 are active protein kinases with differential preference for divalent cations. Our results suggest that CRK7 is involved in mediating the responses to extracellular but not chloroplastic ROS production.

Genome sequencing and population genomic analyses provide insights into the adaptive landscape of silver birch

Silver birch (Betula pendula) is a pioneer boreal tree that can be induced to flower within 1 year. Its rapid life cycle, small (440-Mb) genome, and advanced germplasm resources make birch an attractive model for forest biotechnology. We assembled and chromosomally anchored the nuclear genome of an inbred B. pendula individual. Gene duplicates from the paleohexaploid event were enriched for transcriptional regulation, whereas tandem duplicates were overrepresented by environmental responses. Population resequencing of 80 individuals showed effective population size crashes at major points of climatic upheaval. Selective sweeps were enriched among polyploid duplicates encoding key developmental and physiological triggering functions, suggesting that local adaptation has tuned the timing of and cross-talk between fundamental plant processes. Variation around the tightly-linked light response genes PHYC and FRS10 correlated with latitude and longitude and temperature, and with precipitation for PHYC. Similar associations characterized the growth-promoting cytokinin response regulator ARR1, and the wood development genes KAK and MED5A.

A Key Role for Apoplastic H2O2 in Norway Spruce Phenolic Metabolism

The redox state of the apoplast has a profound influence on cellular metabolism. Apoplastic events such as monolignol oxidation and lignin polymerization are difficult to study in intact trees. To investigate the role of apoplastic hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in gymnosperm phenolic metabolism, an extracellular lignin-forming cell culture of Norway spruce (Picea abies) was used as a research model. Scavenging of apoplastic H2O2 by potassium iodide repressed lignin formation, in line with peroxidases activating monolignols for lignin polymerization. Time-course analyses coupled to candidate substrate-product pair network propagation revealed differential accumulation of low-molecular-weight phenolics, including (glycosylated) oligolignols, (glycosylated) flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins, in lignin-forming and H2O2-scavenging cultures and supported that monolignols are oxidatively coupled not only in the cell wall but also in the cytoplasm, where they are coupled to other monolignols and proanthocyanidins. Dilignol glycoconjugates with reduced structures were found in the culture medium, suggesting that cells are able to transport glycosylated dilignols to the apoplast. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that scavenging of apoplastic H2O2 resulted in remodulation of the transcriptome, with reduced carbon flux into the shikimate pathway propagating down to monolignol biosynthesis. Aggregated coexpression network analysis identified candidate enzymes and transcription factors for monolignol oxidation and apoplastic H2O2 production in addition to potential H2O2 receptors. The results presented indicate that the redox state of the apoplast has a profound influence on cellular metabolism.

Reactive Oxygen in Abiotic Stress Perception - From Genes to Proteins

Throughout their life plants have to adapt to variable environmental conditions. Changes in photoperiod, light intensity and quality, nutrient abundance and starvation, drought and flooding, variation in temperature, air and soil pollution and osmotic changes are among the abiotic factors that can cause stress (Apel & Hirt, 2004). To ensure constant monitoring of environmental conditions and a quick and appropriate response, plants have developed elaborate and robust perception and signal transduction mechanisms. The importance of the ability to adapt to a changing environment has been described in numerous research articles and reviews (Hirayama & Shinozaki, 2010). Recent years have seen tremendous progress in our understanding of the mechanisms and processes underlying abiotic stress adaptation and defence in different plant species (Hirayama & Shinozaki, 2010; Jaspers & Kangasjarvi, 2010). Importantly, the analysis of abiotic stress tolerant varieties of Arabidopsis and also rice has led to novel ideas for improving the stress resistance of crop species. The diversity of abiotic stresses implies that there should be a strong specific component in the individual stress responses (Jaspers & Kangasjarvi, 2010). However, there is a striking common component in the general response to all abiotic stresses (Vaahtera & Brosche, 2011). Essentially all abiotic stresses lead to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) albeit different forms and in different subcellular compartments (Jaspers & Kangasjarvi, 2010). In contrast to their presumed role as simply damaging agents in cells ROS act as signalling molecules in the regulation of stress adaptation but also in developmental regulation (Apel & Hirt, 2004; Jaspers & Kangasjarvi, 2010; Moller et al., 2007). For reviews on other aspects of abiotic stress we refer to reviews (Jaspers & Kangasjarvi, 2010; Miller et al., 2008; Munns & Tester, 2008; Vaahtera & Brosche, 2011; Zhu, 2002). Despite the wealth of information on abiotic stress defence in plants the mechanisms of stress sensing have remained relatively elusive. In this review we turn our attention to the mechanisms of abiotic stress perception. Generally, stresses, as well as other stimuli, can be perceived in a direct or an indirect manner. In direct perception, the agent causing the stress is perceived through a receptor. Alternatively, in indirect perception, specific effects leading to stress caused by an agent are perceived. Evidence suggests that in abiotic stress perception plants use both modes in parallel. In indirect stress perception ROS are components frequently used as signalling molecules. However, ROS themselves can be

The receptor-like pseudokinase GHR1 is required for stomatal closure

GHR1 is a receptor-like pseudokinase that activates SLOW ANION CHANNEL1 and acts in stomatal closure through its scaffolding functions rather than by directly phosphorylating its target proteins. Guard cells control the aperture of stomatal pores to balance photosynthetic carbon dioxide uptake with evaporative water loss. Stomatal closure is triggered by several stimuli that initiate complex signaling networks to govern the activity of ion channels. Activation of SLOW ANION CHANNEL1 (SLAC1) is central to the process of stomatal closure and requires the leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase (LRR-RLK) GUARD CELL HYDROGEN PEROXIDE-RESISTANT1 (GHR1), among other signaling components. Here, based on functional analysis of nine Arabidopsis thaliana ghr1 mutant alleles identified in two independent forward-genetic ozone-sensitivity screens, we found that GHR1 is required for stomatal responses to apoplastic reactive oxygen species, abscisic acid, high CO2 concentrations, and diurnal light/dark transitions. Furthermore, we show that the amino acid residues of GHR1 involved in ATP binding are not required for stomatal closure in Arabidopsis or the activation of SLAC1 anion currents in Xenopus laevis oocytes and present supporting in silico and in vitro evidence suggesting that GHR1 is an inactive pseudokinase. Biochemical analyses suggested that GHR1-mediated activation of SLAC1 occurs via interacting proteins and that CALCIUM-DEPENDENT PROTEIN KINASE3 interacts with GHR1. We propose that GHR1 acts in stomatal closure as a scaffolding component.