Abstract
Innate immunity is based on the recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Here, we show that elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu), the most abundant bacterial protein, acts as a PAMP in Arabidopsis thaliana and other Brassicaceae. EF-Tu is highly conserved in all bacteria and is known to be N-acetylated in Escherichia coli. Arabidopsis plants specifically recognize the N terminus of the protein, and an N-acetylated peptide comprising the first 18 amino acids, termed elf18, is fully active as inducer of defense responses. The shorter peptide, elf12, comprising the acetyl group and the first 12 N-terminal amino acids, is inactive as elicitor but acts as a specific antagonist for EF-Tu-related elicitors. In leaves of Arabidopsis plants, elf18 induces an oxidative burst and biosynthesis of ethylene, and it triggers resistance to subsequent infection with pathogenic bacteria.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Acetylation
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Amino Acid Sequence / physiology
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Arabidopsis / drug effects
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Arabidopsis / metabolism
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Arabidopsis / physiology*
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Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
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Bacterial Proteins / isolation & purification
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Bacterial Proteins / physiology
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Escherichia coli / chemistry
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Ethylenes / biosynthesis
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Flagellin / chemistry
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Flagellin / metabolism
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Immunity, Innate / drug effects
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Immunity, Innate / physiology*
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Models, Molecular
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Peptide Elongation Factor Tu / chemistry*
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Peptide Elongation Factor Tu / isolation & purification
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Peptide Elongation Factor Tu / physiology*
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Peptide Fragments / chemistry
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Peptide Fragments / metabolism
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Peptide Fragments / pharmacology
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Plant Diseases / microbiology
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Plant Leaves / drug effects
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Plant Leaves / metabolism
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Protein Structure, Tertiary / physiology
Substances
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Bacterial Proteins
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Ethylenes
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Peptide Fragments
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Flagellin
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ethylene
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Peptide Elongation Factor Tu
Associated data
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PDB/1EFC
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SWISSPROT/P02990