The MKK2 pathway mediates cold and salt stress signaling in Arabidopsis

Markus Teige; Elisabeth Scheikl; Thomas Eulgem; Róbert Dóczi; Kazuya Ichimura; Kazuo Shinozaki; Jeffery L Dangl; Heribert Hirt

doi:10.1016/j.molcel.2004.06.023

The MKK2 pathway mediates cold and salt stress signaling in Arabidopsis

Mol Cell. 2004 Jul 2;15(1):141-52. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2004.06.023.

Authors

Markus Teige¹, Elisabeth Scheikl, Thomas Eulgem, Róbert Dóczi, Kazuya Ichimura, Kazuo Shinozaki, Jeffery L Dangl, Heribert Hirt

Affiliation

¹ Max F. Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna and Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Dr. Bohrgasse 9, A-1030 Vienna, Austria. markus.teige@univie.ac.at

PMID: 15225555
DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2004.06.023

Abstract

The Arabidopsis mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase 2 (MKK2) and the downstream MAPKs MPK4 and MPK6 were isolated by functional complementation of osmosensitive yeast mutants. In Arabidopsis protoplasts, MKK2 was specifically activated by cold and salt stress and by the stress-induced MAPK kinase kinase MEKK1. Yeast two-hybrid, in vitro, and in vivo protein kinase assays revealed that MKK2 directly targets MPK4 and MPK6. Accordingly, plants overexpressing MKK2 exhibited constitutive MPK4 and MPK6 activity, constitutively upregulated expression of stress-induced marker genes, and increased freezing and salt tolerance. In contrast, mkk2 null plants were impaired in MPK4 and MPK6 activation and were hypersensitive to salt and cold stress. Full genome transcriptome analysis of MKK2-overexpressing plants demonstrated altered expression of 152 genes involved in transcriptional regulation, signal transduction, cellular defense, and stress metabolism. These data identify a MAP kinase signaling cascade mediating cold and salt stress tolerance in plants.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Arabidopsis / drug effects
Arabidopsis / enzymology
Arabidopsis / metabolism*
Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
Arabidopsis Proteins / isolation & purification
Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
Cold Temperature
Enzyme Activation / drug effects
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / genetics
MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / metabolism
MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects
MAP Kinase Signaling System / genetics*
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / genetics
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / isolation & purification
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / metabolism*
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
Mutation / genetics
Phenotype
Saline Solution, Hypertonic / pharmacology
Up-Regulation / genetics
Yeasts / enzymology
Yeasts / genetics

Substances

Arabidopsis Proteins
Saline Solution, Hypertonic
AtMPK4 protein, Arabidopsis
MPK6 protein, Arabidopsis
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases
MKK2 protein, Arabidopsis
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases