ROS homeostasis mediated by MPK4 and SUMM2 determines synergid cell death.

Ronny Volz, William Harris, Heribert Hirt, Yong-Hwan Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Sexual plant reproduction depends on the attraction of sperm-cell delivering pollen tubes (PT) by two synergids, followed by their programmed cell death (PCD) in Arabidopsis. Disruption of the mitogen-activated protein kinase 4 (MPK4) by pathogenic effectors activates the resistance protein (R) SUMM2-mediated immunity and cell death. Here we show that synergid preservation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis are intimately linked and maintained by MPK4. In mpk4, ROS levels are increased and synergids prematurely undergo PCD before PT-reception. However, ROS scavengers and the disruption of SUMM2, in mpk4, restore ROS homeostasis, synergid maintenance and PT perception, demonstrating that the guardian of MPK4, SUMM2, triggers synergid-PCD. In mpk4/summ2, PTs show a feronia-like overgrowth phenotype. Our results show that immunity-associated PCD and synergid cell death during plant reproduction are regulated by MPK4 underscoring an underlying molecular mechanism for the suppression of plant reproduction during systemic R-mediated immunity.
Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalNature communications
Volume13
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2 2022

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Chemistry
  • General Physics and Astronomy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'ROS homeostasis mediated by MPK4 and SUMM2 determines synergid cell death.'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this