The role of Clathrin-coated vesicle networks in plant innate immunity against bacterial infection
E. LAMONTAGNE (1), C. Collins (2), A. Clarke (1), A. Heese (1) (1) University of Missouri, U.S.A.; (2) University of Wisconsin-Madison, U.S.A.; (3) University of Missouri, U.S.A.

The first layer of plant immunity relies on cell surface-localized immune receptors called Pattern-Recognition Receptors (PRRs). For perception of bacterial flagellin (or flg22), the PRR Flagellin Sensing 2 (FLS2) must be present at the PM to bind flg22 and initiate immune responses. A complex and dynamic vesicular trafficking network is essential to ensure proper localization and abundance of FLS2 at the plasma membrane (PM). However, few vesicular trafficking components with roles in trafficking FLS2 to and from the PM are known. Our recent data showed that Arabidopsis plants lacking ENTH, a Trans-Golgi Network (TGN)-localized vesicle adaptor protein, have defects in flg22-responses. Impaired responses correlated with reduced FLS2 levels at the PM, thus identifying ENTH as a regulator of FLS2 abundance at the PM. Consistent with increased susceptibility to Pseudomonas syringae, enth mutants were also defective in elf26 and AtPep1 signaling. Here, we used immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry to identify proteins, which interact and function cooperatively with ENTH in FLS2 signaling and abundance at the PM. Clathrin Heavy Chain (CHC), a key component in the formation of clathrin coated vesicles at the TGN and PM, was among the candidates. We have isolated independent chc mutant alleles and generated chc enth double mutants to explore genetic interaction of ENTH and CHC. Our data indicate that ENTH and CHC function synergistically in immune signaling.

Abstract Number: P18-679
Session Type: Poster