Brassinosteroids inhibit pathogen-associated molecular pattern-triggered immune signaling independent of the receptor kinase BAK1

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Jan 3;109(1):303-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1109921108. Epub 2011 Nov 15.

Abstract

Plants and animals use innate immunity as a first defense against pathogens, a costly yet necessary tradeoff between growth and immunity. In Arabidopsis, the regulatory leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase (LRR-RLK) BAK1 combines with the LRR-RLKs FLS2 and EFR in pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-triggered immunity (PTI) and the LRR-RLK BRI1 in brassinosteroid (BR)-mediated growth. Therefore, a potential tradeoff between these pathways mediated by BAK1 is often postulated. Here, we show a unidirectional inhibition of FLS2-mediated immune signaling by BR perception. Unexpectedly, this effect occurred downstream or independently of complex formation with BAK1 and associated downstream phosphorylation. Thus, BAK1 is not rate-limiting in these pathways. BRs also inhibited signaling triggered by the BAK1-independent recognition of the fungal PAMP chitin. Our results suggest a general mechanism operative in plants in which BR-mediated growth directly antagonizes innate immune signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / drug effects
  • Arabidopsis / enzymology
  • Arabidopsis / immunology*
  • Arabidopsis / microbiology*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
  • Brassinosteroids / pharmacology*
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Flagellin / pharmacology
  • Plant Immunity / drug effects*
  • Plant Immunity / immunology
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Pseudomonas / drug effects
  • Pseudomonas / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Pattern Recognition / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • Steroids, Heterocyclic / pharmacology

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Brassinosteroids
  • Receptors, Pattern Recognition
  • Steroids, Heterocyclic
  • Flagellin
  • Protein Kinases
  • BAK1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • FLS2 protein, Arabidopsis
  • BRI1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • brassinolide