Soy and Arabidopsis receptor-like kinases respond to polysaccharide signals from Spodoptera species and mediate herbivore resistance

Commun Biol. 2020 May 8;3(1):224. doi: 10.1038/s42003-020-0959-4.

Abstract

Plants respond to herbivory by perceiving herbivore danger signal(s) (HDS(s)), including "elicitors", that are present in herbivores' oral secretions (OS) and act to induce defense responses. However, little is known about HDS-specific molecules and intracellular signaling. Here we explored soybean receptor-like kinases (RLKs) as candidates that might mediate HDS-associated RLKs' (HAKs') actions in leaves in response to OS extracted from larvae of a generalist herbivore, Spodoptera litura. Fractionation of OS yielded Frα, which consisted of polysaccharides. The GmHAKs composed of their respective homomultimers scarcely interacted with Frα. Moreover, Arabidopsis HAK1 homomultimers interacted with cytoplasmic signaling molecule PBL27, resulting in herbivory resistance, in an ethylene-dependent manner. Altogether, our findings suggest that HAKs are herbivore-specific RLKs mediating HDS-transmitting, intracellular signaling through interaction with PBL27 and the subsequent ethylene signaling for plant defense responses in host plants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arabidopsis / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
  • Food Chain
  • Glycine max / genetics*
  • Glycine max / metabolism
  • Herbivory
  • Larva / growth & development
  • Larva / physiology
  • Plant Defense Against Herbivory / genetics*
  • Plant Proteins / genetics*
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism
  • Polysaccharides / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Spodoptera / growth & development
  • Spodoptera / physiology*

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Plant Proteins
  • Polysaccharides