Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades have pivotal roles in plant innate immunity. However, downstream signaling of plant defense-related MAPKs is not well understood. Here, we provide evidence that the Nicotiana benthamiana WRKY8 transcription factor is a physiological substrate of SIPK, NTF4, and WIPK. Clustered Pro-directed Ser residues (SP cluster), which are conserved in group I WRKY proteins, in the N-terminal region of WRKY8 were phosphorylated by these MAPKs in vitro. Antiphosphopeptide antibodies indicated that Ser residues in the SP cluster of WRKY8 are phosphorylated by SIPK, NTF4, and WIPK in vivo. The interaction of WRKY8 with MAPKs depended on its D domain, which is a MAPK-interacting motif, and this interaction was required for effective phosphorylation of WRKY8 in plants. Phosphorylation of WRKY8 increased its DNA binding activity to the cognate W-box sequence. The phospho-mimicking mutant of WRKY8 showed higher transactivation activity, and its ectopic expression induced defense-related genes, such as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase 2 and NADP-malic enzyme. By contrast, silencing of WRKY8 decreased the expression of defense-related genes and increased disease susceptibility to the pathogens Phytophthora infestans and Colletotrichum orbiculare. Thus, MAPK-mediated phosphorylation of WRKY8 has an important role in the defense response through activation of downstream genes.
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Claims 10
Claim · model-written summary
WRKY8 is a physiological substrate of SIPK, NTF4, and WIPK.
- Taxon
- Nicotiana benthamiana
Nicotiana benthamianae0 - Gene
- WRKY8e0
- Outcome
- physiological substrate of SIPK, NTF4, and WIPKe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“the Nicotiana benthamiana WRKY8 transcription factor is a physiological substrate of SIPK, NTF4, and WIPK”
Claim · model-written summary
The conserved SP cluster of WRKY8 was phosphorylated by the MAPKs in vitro.
- Taxon
- Nicotiana benthamiana
Nicotiana benthamianat0 - Gene
- WRKY8e0
- Outcome
- were phosphorylated by these MAPKs in vitroe0
- Qualifier
- Clustered Pro-directed Ser residues (SP cluster)e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“Clustered Pro-directed Ser residues (SP cluster), which are conserved in group I WRKY proteins, in the N-terminal region of WRKY8 were phosphorylated by these MAPKs in vitro”
t0“Nicotiana benthamiana”
Claim · model-written summary
SIPK, NTF4, and WIPK phosphorylated WRKY8 SP cluster residues in vivo.
- Taxon
- Nicotiana benthamiana
Nicotiana benthamianat0 - Gene
- WRKY8e0
- Outcome
- phosphorylated by SIPK, NTF4, and WIPK in vivoe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“Ser residues in the SP cluster of WRKY8 are phosphorylated by SIPK, NTF4, and WIPK in vivo”
t0“Nicotiana benthamiana”
Claim · model-written summary
The WRKY8 D domain mediated MAPK interaction and effective phosphorylation in plants.
- Taxon
- Nicotiana benthamiana
Nicotiana benthamianat0 - Gene
- WRKY8e0
- Outcome
- effective phosphorylation of WRKY8 in plantse0
- Qualifier
- interaction of WRKY8 with MAPKs depended on its D domaine0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“The interaction of WRKY8 with MAPKs depended on its D domain, which is a MAPK-interacting motif, and this interaction was required for effective phosphorylation of WRKY8 in plants”
t0“Nicotiana benthamiana”
Claim · model-written summary
WRKY8 phosphorylation increased binding to the W-box sequence.
- Taxon
- Nicotiana benthamiana
Nicotiana benthamianat0 - Treatment
- Phosphorylation of WRKY8e0
- Gene
- WRKY8e0
- Outcome
- DNA binding activitye0
- Direction
- increasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“Phosphorylation of WRKY8 increased its DNA binding activity to the cognate W-box sequence”
t0“Nicotiana benthamiana”
Claim · model-written summary
Phospho-mimicking WRKY8 showed higher transactivation activity.
- Taxon
- Nicotiana benthamiana
Nicotiana benthamianat0 - Gene
- WRKY8e0
- Outcome
- transactivation activitye0
- Direction
- highere0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“The phospho-mimicking mutant of WRKY8 showed higher transactivation activity”
t0“Nicotiana benthamiana”
Claim · model-written summary
Ectopic phospho-mimicking WRKY8 induced defense-related genes.
- Taxon
- Nicotiana benthamiana
Nicotiana benthamianat0 - Treatment
- ectopic expressione0
- Gene
- 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase 2 and NADP-malic enzymee0
- Outcome
- defense-related genese0
- Direction
- inducede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“its ectopic expression induced defense-related genes, such as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase 2 and NADP-malic enzyme”
t0“Nicotiana benthamiana”
Claim · model-written summary
WRKY8 silencing decreased defense gene expression.
- Taxon
- Nicotiana benthamiana
Nicotiana benthamianat0 - Treatment
- silencing of WRKY8e0
- Outcome
- expression of defense-related genese0
- Direction
- decreasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“silencing of WRKY8 decreased the expression of defense-related genes”
t0“Nicotiana benthamiana”
Claim · model-written summary
WRKY8 silencing increased susceptibility to Phytophthora infestans.
- Taxon
- Nicotiana benthamiana
Nicotiana benthamianat0 - Treatment
- silencing of WRKY8e0
- Interactor
- Phytophthora infestans
Phytophthora infestanse0pathogen - Outcome
- disease susceptibility to the pathogens Phytophthora infestanse0
- Direction
- increasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.


Verbatim
e0“silencing of WRKY8 decreased the expression of defense-related genes and increased disease susceptibility to the pathogens Phytophthora infestans and Colletotrichum orbiculare”
t0“Nicotiana benthamiana”
Claim · model-written summary
WRKY8 silencing increased susceptibility to Colletotrichum orbiculare.
- Taxon
- Nicotiana benthamiana
Nicotiana benthamianat0 - Treatment
- silencing of WRKY8e0
- Interactor
- Colletotrichum orbiculare
Colletotrichum orbicularee0pathogen - Outcome
- disease susceptibility to the pathogens Phytophthora infestans and Colletotrichum orbicularee0
- Direction
- increasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.


Verbatim
e0“silencing of WRKY8 decreased the expression of defense-related genes and increased disease susceptibility to the pathogens Phytophthora infestans and Colletotrichum orbiculare”
t0“Nicotiana benthamiana”
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See all 43 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.