Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Plants respond to mechanical stimulations like wind, touching or wounding to safeguard their development and survival. Mitogen Activated Protein Kinases (MAPKs) activation by mechanostimuli was reported 26 years ago, but the upstream regulatory mechanism and function remained unknown. We report that mechanostimulation activates a MAPKKK3/4/5-MKK4/5-MPK3/6 cascade within 60 seconds, leading to induction of ~800 genes, encompassing most of the early touch response. Most genes overlap with touch-responsive genes regulated by CAMTA1/2/3, exposing an interplay between MAPKs and CAMTA transcription factors. Furthermore, loss of MKK4/5 leads to global impairment of touch-regulated protein phosphorylation, demonstrating they are crucial regulators. In contrast, phosphorylation does not clearly affect early activation of the touch-induced jasmonic acid (JA) signalling pathway, nor does loss of JA affect the overall early touch-phosphoproteome. Lastly, loss of MAPKKK3/4/5 and MKK4/5 reduces thigmomorphogenesis, underlining the importance of the identified MAPK cascade for steering plant growth during stress. In summary, we have now identified a MAPKKK3/4/5-MKK4/5-MPK3/6 cascade as a key touch- and wounding signalling pathway in plants.
Source: Nature Communications
Institutions: Lund University, Cairo University, Ghent University, VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paris-Saclay, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Institut des Sciences des Plantes de Paris Saclay
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
Awards: Deciphering phosphorylation code regulating JA receptor COI1 subcellular localization in Arabidopsis, Characterisation of phosphoregulation mechanisms in jasmonate-mediated plant stress responses, Post-germination field rolling of cereals for increased lodging resistance, winter hardiness, drought tolerance and biotic-stress resistance, G7508473382, Molecular dissection of mitochondrial responses to environmental stress, Deciphering (a)biotic stress-mediated COI1 phosphorylation code in wheat, G882771228
OpenAlex ID: W7166868630