The Arabidopsis defense component EDM2 affects the floral transition in an FLC-dependent manner

Plant J. 2010 May;62(3):518-28. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-313X.2010.04169.x. Epub 2010 Feb 9.

Abstract

Arabidopsis thaliana EDM2 was previously shown to be specifically required for disease resistance mediated by the R protein RPP7. Here we provide additional data showing that the role of EDM2 in plant immunity is limited and does not include a function in basal defense. In addition, we found that EDM2 has a promoting effect on the floral transition. We further found that the protein kinase WNK8 physically interacts with EDM2 in the nucleus. Unlike EDM2, which serves as a substrate of this kinase, WNK8 appears not to be required for RPP7-mediated defense. As reported previously, however, WNK8 does affect flowering time. Epistasis analyses suggested that EDM2 acts upstream of the floral repressor FLC (AT5G10140) and downstream of WNK8 (AT5G41990) in a regulatory module that resembles the autonomous floral promotion pathway, comprising a set of mechanisms that are known to affect the floral transition by regulating FLC transcript levels.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Arabidopsis / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis / immunology
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Epistasis, Genetic
  • Flowers / growth & development*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Immunity, Innate
  • MADS Domain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / immunology
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • RNA, Plant / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • EDM2 protein, Arabidopsis
  • FLF protein, Arabidopsis
  • MADS Domain Proteins
  • RNA, Plant
  • Transcription Factors
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • WNK8 protein, Arabidopsis