SEC14 phospholipid transfer protein is involved in lipid signaling-mediated plant immune responses in Nicotiana benthamiana

Akinori Kiba; Ivan Galis; Yuko Hojo; Kouhei Ohnishi; Hirofumi Yoshioka; Yasufumi Hikichi

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0098150

SEC14 phospholipid transfer protein is involved in lipid signaling-mediated plant immune responses in Nicotiana benthamiana

PLoS One. 2014 May 20;9(5):e98150. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098150. eCollection 2014.

Authors

Akinori Kiba¹, Ivan Galis², Yuko Hojo², Kouhei Ohnishi³, Hirofumi Yoshioka⁴, Yasufumi Hikichi¹

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Plant Pathology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi, Japan.
² Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Kurashiki, Japan.
³ Research Institute of Molecular Genetics, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi, Japan.
⁴ Laboratory of Defense in Plant-Pathogen Interactions, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan.

Abstract

We previously identified a gene related to the SEC14-gene phospholipid transfer protein superfamily that is induced in Nicotiana benthamiana (NbSEC14) in response to infection with Ralstonia solanacearum. We here report that NbSEC14 plays a role in plant immune responses via phospholipid-turnover. NbSEC14-silencing compromised expression of defense-related PR-4 and accumulation of jasmonic acid (JA) and its derivative JA-Ile. Transient expression of NbSEC14 induced PR-4 gene expression. Activities of diacylglycerol kinase, phospholipase C and D, and the synthesis of diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid elicited by avirulent R. solanacearum were reduced in NbSEC14-silenced plants. Accumulation of signaling lipids and activation of diacylglycerol kinase and phospholipases were enhanced by transient expression of NbSEC14. These results suggest that the NbSEC14 protein plays a role at the interface between lipid signaling-metabolism and plant innate immune responses.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cyclopentanes / metabolism
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
Immunity, Innate
Isoleucine / analogs & derivatives
Isoleucine / metabolism
Lipid Metabolism
Nicotiana / metabolism*
Oxylipins / metabolism
Phospholipid Transfer Proteins / genetics
Phospholipid Transfer Proteins / metabolism*
Plant Diseases / immunology*
Plant Diseases / microbiology
Plant Proteins / genetics
Plant Proteins / metabolism*
Ralstonia solanacearum / physiology*
Signal Transduction

Substances

Cyclopentanes
Oxylipins
Phospholipid Transfer Proteins
Plant Proteins
jasmonoyl-isoleucine
Isoleucine
jasmonic acid

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Grants in Aid for Scientific Research to AK (16780031 and 18780029) and YH (15028214 and 16380037) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan. AK is also grateful for financial support from the Asahi Glass Foundation, and Agricultural Chemical Foundation. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, or preparation of the manuscript.