Dai Yujie, Li Xiaodan, He Yeling, Zhu Liya, Bi Yan, Song Fengming, Li Dayong
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Biology and Ecological Regulation of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
Hortic Res. 2025 Mar 10;12(6):uhaf078. doi: 10.1093/hr/uhaf078. eCollection 2025 Jun.
Plant immunity involves complex regulatory mechanisms that mediate the activation of defense responses against pathogens. Protein degradation via ubiquitination plays a crucial role in modulating these defenses, with E3 ubiquitin ligases functioning as central regulators. This study investigates the role of SlATL2, an ARABIDOPSIS TÓXICOS EN LEVADURA (ATL)-type E3 ubiquitin ligase localized in the plasma membrane, in the immune response of tomato plants against pv. () DC3000. Our findings demonstrate that SlATL2 expression is induced upon DC3000 infection and treatment with defense hormones salicylic acid and jasmonic acid. Functionally, SlATL2 negatively regulates immune responses, impairing resistance to DC3000 and suppressing flg22-triggered immunity. In addition, SlATL2 limits pathogen-induced reactive oxygen species and callose accumulation by targeting the COP9 signalosome subunit 5a (SlCSN5a), a key positive regulator of tomato defense responses against DC3000. This interaction, which occurs via the N-terminal residue of SlATL2, results in the ubiquitination and 26S proteasomal degradation of SlCSN5a, thereby suppressing SA-dependent expression of defense response genes associated and limiting reactive oxygen species production. This work sheds light on the molecular mechanism through which the E3 ubiquitin ligase SlATL2 attenuates tomato immune responses by targeting a COP9 signalosome subunit for degradation. These discoveries deepen our insights into the post-translational mechanisms governing plant immune responses and provide fresh opportunities to bolster crop resistance against bacterial pathogens.
植物免疫涉及复杂的调控机制,这些机制介导针对病原体的防御反应的激活。通过泛素化进行的蛋白质降解在调节这些防御中起着关键作用,其中E3泛素连接酶作为核心调节因子发挥作用。本研究调查了定位于质膜的拟南芥酵母毒素(ATL)型E3泛素连接酶SlATL2在番茄植株对丁香假单胞菌番茄致病变种(Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato)(Pto)DC3000的免疫反应中的作用。我们的研究结果表明,SlATL2的表达在Pto DC3000感染以及用防御激素水杨酸和茉莉酸处理后被诱导。在功能上,SlATL2负向调节免疫反应,损害对Pto DC3000的抗性并抑制flg22触发的免疫。此外,SlATL2通过靶向COP9信号体亚基5a(SlCSN5a)来限制病原体诱导的活性氧和胼胝质积累,SlCSN5a是番茄对Pto DC3000防御反应的关键正向调节因子。这种相互作用通过SlATL2的N端残基发生,导致SlCSN5a的泛素化和26S蛋白酶体降解,从而抑制与防御反应相关的SA依赖型基因的表达并限制活性氧的产生。这项工作揭示了E3泛素连接酶SlATL2通过靶向COP9信号体亚基进行降解来减弱番茄免疫反应的分子机制。这些发现加深了我们对植物免疫反应翻译后调控机制的理解,并为增强作物对细菌病原体的抗性提供了新的机会。