Ott, T. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2018

Phosphorylation of the exocyst subunit Exo70B2 contributes to the regulation of its function

The exocyst is a conserved hetero-octameric complex that mediates early tethering of post-Golgi vesicles during exocytosis. Its Exo70 subunit functions as a spatiotemporal regulator by mediating numerous interactions with proteins and lipids. However, a molecular understanding of the exocyst functions remains challenging. Exo70B2 localized to dynamic foci at the plasma membrane and transited through Brefeldin A (BFA)-sensitive compartments, indicating that it participates in conventional secretion. Conversely, treatment with the immunogenic peptide flg22 or the salicylic acid (SA) defence hormone analogue Benzothiadiazole (BTH), induced Exo70B2 transport into the vacuole where it colocalized with autophagic markers AUTOPHAGY-RELATED PROTEIN 8 (ATG8) and NEIGHBOR OF BRCA1 GENE 1 (NBR1). According with its role in immunity, we discovered that Exo70B2 interacts with and is phosphorylated by the MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE 3 (MPK3). Mimicking phosphorylation inhibited Exo70B2 localization at sites of active secretion. By contrast, lines expressing phosphonull variants displayed higher Effector-Triggered Immunity and were hypersensitive to BTH, conditions known to induce the secretory pathway. Our results suggest a molecular mechanism by which phosphorylation of Exo70B2 regulates interaction with the plasma membrane, and couples the secretory pathway with cellular signalling.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2017

Symbiotic root infections in Medicago truncatula require remorin-mediated receptor stabilization in membrane nanodomains

Plant cell infection is tightly controlled by cell surface receptor-like kinases (RLKs) Alike other RLKs the Medicago truncatula entry receptor LYK3 laterally segregates into membrane nanodomains in a stimulus-dependent manner. Although nanodomain localization arises as a generic feature of plant membrane proteins, molecular mechanisms underlying such dynamic transitions and their functional relevance remained poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that actin and the flotillin protein FLOT4 form the primary and indispensable core of a specific nanodomain. Infection-dependent induction of the remorin protein and secondary molecular scaffold SYMREM1 results in subsequent recruitment of ligand-activated LYK3 and its stabilization within these membrane subcompartments. Reciprocally, the majority of this LYK3 receptor pool is destabilized at the plasma membrane and undergoes rapid endocytosis in symrem1 mutants upon rhizobial inoculation resulting in premature abortion of host cell infections. These data reveal that receptor recruitment into nanodomains is indispensable for their function during host cell infection.\n\nSIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTPattern recognition receptors control the cellular entry of pathogenic as well as symbiotic microbes. While ligand-induced changes in receptor mobility at the plasma membrane and their localization in membrane nanodomains appears as a general feature, the molecular mechanism and the biological relevance of this phenomenon remained unknown. Here, we show that immobilization of the symbiotic cell entry receptor LYK3 in nanodomains requires the presence of actin and the two molecular scaffold proteins FLOT4 and SYMREM1. While FLOT4 forms the initial core structure, infection-induced expression and subsequent physical interaction of SYMREM1 with LYK3 stabilizes the activated receptors in membrane nanodomains. This recruitment prevents its stimulus-dependent endocytosis and ensures progression of the primary infection thread into root cortical cells.

plant biology↗