Coupling calcium/calmodulin-mediated signaling and herbivore-induced plant response through calmodulin-binding transcription factor AtSR1/CAMTA3

Plant Mol Biol. 2012 May;79(1-2):89-99. doi: 10.1007/s11103-012-9896-z. Epub 2012 Feb 28.

Abstract

Calcium/calmodulin (Ca(2+)/CaM) has long been considered a crucial component in wound signaling pathway. However, very few Ca(2+)/CaM-binding proteins have been identified which regulate plant responses to herbivore attack/wounding stress. We have reported earlier that a family of Ca(2+)/CaM-binding transcription factors designated as AtSRs (also known as AtCAMTAs) can respond differentially to wounding stress. Further studies revealed that AtSR1/CAMTA3 is a negative regulator of plant defense, and Ca(2+)/CaM-binding to AtSR1 is indispensable for the suppression of salicylic acid (SA) accumulation and disease resistance. Here we report that Ca(2+)/CaM-binding is also critical for AtSR1-mediated herbivore-induced wound response. Interestingly, atsr1 mutant plants are more susceptible to herbivore attack than wild-type plants. Complementation of atsr1 mutant plants by overexpressing wild-type AtSR1 protein can effectively restore plant resistance to herbivore attack. However, when mutants of AtSR1 with impaired CaM-binding ability were overexpressed in atsr1 mutant plants, plant resistance to herbivore attack was not restored, suggesting a key role for Ca(2+)/CaM-binding in wound signaling. Furthermore, it was observed that elevated SA levels in atsr1 mutant plants have a negative impact on both basal and induced biosynthesis of jasmonates (JA). These results revealed that Ca(2+)/CaM-mediated signaling regulates plant response to herbivore attack/wounding by modulating the SA-JA crosstalk through AtSR1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arabidopsis / drug effects
  • Arabidopsis / immunology*
  • Arabidopsis / parasitology*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Calcium Signaling* / drug effects
  • Calmodulin / metabolism*
  • Cyclopentanes / pharmacology
  • Herbivory / drug effects
  • Herbivory / physiology*
  • Insecta / drug effects
  • Insecta / physiology
  • Larva / drug effects
  • Larva / physiology
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Oxylipins / pharmacology
  • Plant Diseases / parasitology
  • Protein Binding / drug effects
  • Salicylic Acid / pharmacology
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • AT2G22300 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Calmodulin
  • Cyclopentanes
  • Oxylipins
  • Transcription Factors
  • AT5G37780 protein, Arabidopsis
  • jasmonic acid
  • Salicylic Acid