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Plant receptor kinases are key transducers of extracellular stimuli, such as the presence of beneficial or pathogenic microbes or secreted signaling molecules. Receptor kinases are regulated by numerous post-translational modifications.1,2,3 Here, using the immune receptor kinases FLS24 and EFR,5 we show that S-acylation at a cysteine conserved in all plant receptor kinases is crucial for function. S-acylation involves the addition of long-chain fatty acids to cysteine residues within proteins, altering their biochemical properties and behavior within the membrane environment.6 We observe S-acylation of FLS2 at C-terminal kinase domain cysteine residues within minutes following the perception of its ligand, flg22, in a BAK1 co-receptor and PUB12/13 ubiquitin ligase-dependent manner. We demonstrate that S-acylation is essential for FLS2-mediated immune signaling and resistance to bacterial infection. Similarly, mutating the corresponding conserved cysteine residue in EFR suppressed elf18-triggered signaling. Analysis of unstimulated and activated FLS2-containing complexes using microscopy, detergents, and native membrane DIBMA nanodiscs indicates that S-acylation stabilizes, and promotes retention of, activated receptor kinase complexes at the plasma membrane to increase signaling efficiency.

Plasma membrane-associated and intracellular proteins and protein complexes play a pivotal role in pathogen recognition and disease resistance signaling in plants and animals. The two predominant protein families perceiving plant pathogens are receptor-like kinases and nucleotide binding-leucine-rich repeat receptors (NLR), which often confer race-specific resistance. Leaf rust is one of the most prevalent and most devastating wheat diseases. Here, we clone the race-specific leaf rust resistance gene Lr14a from hexaploid wheat. The cloning of Lr14a is aided by the recently published genome assembly of ArinaLrFor, an Lr14a-containing wheat line. Lr14a encodes a membrane-localized protein containing twelve ankyrin (ANK) repeats and structural similarities to Ca2+-permeable non-selective cation channels. Transcriptome analyses reveal an induction of genes associated with calcium ion binding in the presence of Lr14a. Haplotype analyses indicate that Lr14a-containing chromosome segments were introgressed multiple times into the bread wheat gene pool, but we find no variation in the Lr14a coding sequence itself. Our work demonstrates the involvement of an ANK-transmembrane (TM)-like type of gene family in race-specific disease resistance in wheat. This forms the basis to explore ANK-TM-like genes in disease resistance breeding., Winter wheat cultivar Forno harbors a race-specific leaf rust resistance locus Lr14a, but the causative gene is unknown. Here, the authors show that Lr14a encodes a membrane-localized protein containing ankyrin repeats and Lr14a-containing segments have been introgressed into the bread wheat gene pool multiple times.

SummaryPlant receptor kinases are key transducers of extracellular stimuli, such as the presence of beneficial or pathogenic microbes or secreted signalling molecules. Receptor kinases are regulated by numerous post-translational modifications. Here, using the immune receptor kinases FLS2 and EFR, we show that S-acylation at a cysteine conserved in all plant receptor kinases is crucial for function. S-acylation involves the addition of long-chain fatty acids to cysteine residues within proteins, altering their biophysical properties and behaviour within the membrane environment. We observe S-acylation of FLS2 at C-terminal kinase domain cysteine residues within minutes following perception of its ligand flg22, in a BAK1 co-receptor dependent manner. We demonstrate that S-acylation is essential for FLS2-mediated immune signalling and resistance to bacterial infection. Similarly, mutating the corresponding conserved cysteine residue in EFR supressed elf18 triggered signalling. Analysis of unstimulated and activated FLS2-containing complexes using microscopy, detergents and native membrane DIBMA nanodiscs indicates that S-acylation stabilises and promotes retention of activated receptor kinase complexes at the plasma membrane to increase signalling efficiency.

International audience; The plasma membrane (PM) is the biological membrane that separates the interior of all cells from the outside. The PM is constituted of a huge diversity of proteins and lipids. In this review, we will update the diversity of molecular species of lipids found in plant PM. We will further discuss how lipids govern global properties of the plant PM, explaining that plant lipids are unevenly distributed and are able to organize PM in domains. From that observation, it emerges a complex picture showing a spatial and multiscale segregation of PM components. Finally, we will discuss how lipids are key players in the function of PM in plants, with a particular focus on plant-microbe interaction, transport and hormone signaling, abiotic stress responses, plasmodesmata function. The last chapter is dedicated to the methods that the plant membrane biology community needs to develop to get a comprehensive understanding of membrane organization in plants.

Plant growth and development are modulated by both biotic and abiotic stress. Increasing evidence suggests that cellular integration of the corresponding signals occurs within preformed hubs at the plasma membrane called nanodomains. These membrane sub-compartments are organized by multivalent molecular scaffold proteins, such as remorins. Here, we demonstrate that Group 1 remorins form a hetero-oligomeric complex at the plasma membrane. While these remorins are functionally redundant for some pathways their multivalency also allows the recruitment of specific interaction partners. One of them, the receptor-like kinase REMORIN-INTERACTING RECEPTOR 1 (RIR1), that acts redundantly with the closely related receptor NILR2, is specifically recruited by REM1.2 in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. Overlapping developmental phenotypes suggest that the REM/RIR complex regulates key developmental pathways.

Crop breeding for resistance to pathogens largely relies on genes encoding receptors that confer race-specific immunity. Here, we report the identification of the wheat Pm4 race-specific resistance gene to powdery mildew. Pm4 encodes a putative chimeric protein of a serine/threonine kinase and multiple C2 domains and transmembrane regions, a unique domain architecture among known resistance proteins. Pm4 undergoes constitutive alternative splicing, generating two isoforms with different protein domain topologies that are both essential for resistance function. Both isoforms interact and localize to the endoplasmatic reticulum when co-expressed. Pm4 reveals additional diversity of immune receptor architecture to be explored for breeding and suggests an endoplasmatic reticulum-based molecular mechanism of Pm4-mediated race-specific resistance.

Spatial partitioning is a propensity of biological systems orchestrating cell activities in space and time. The dynamic regulation of plasma membrane nano-environments has recently emerged as a key fundamental aspect of plant signaling, but the molecular components governing it are still mostly unclear. The receptor kinase FERONIA (FER) controls complex formation of the immune receptor kinase FLAGELLIN SENSING 2 (FLS2) with its co-receptor BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1-ASSOCIATED KINASE 1 (BAK1), and this function is inhibited by the FER ligand RAPID ALKALANIZATION FACTOR 23 (RALF23). Here, we show that FER regulates the plasma membrane nanoscale organization of FLS2 and BAK1. Our study demonstrates that akin to FER, leucine-rich repeat (LRR) extensin (LRXs) proteins contribute to RALF23 responsiveness, regulate BAK1 nanoscale organization and immune signaling. Furthermore, RALF23 perception leads to rapid modulation of FLS2 and BAK1 nanoscale organization and its inhibitory activity on immune signaling relies on FER kinase activity. Our results suggest that perception of RALF peptides by FER and LRXs actively modulates the plasma membrane nanoscale landscape to regulate cell surface signaling by other receptor kinases.

REMORINs (REMs) are a plant-specific protein family, proposed regulators of membrane-associated molecular assemblies and well-established markers of plasma membrane nanodomains. REMs play a diverse set of functions in plant interactions with pathogens and symbionts, responses to abiotic stresses, hormone signaling and cell-to-cell communication. In this review, we highlight the established and more putative roles of REMs throughout the literature. We discuss the physiological functions of REMs, the mechanisms underlying their nanodomain-organization and their putative role as regulators of nanodomain-associated molecular assemblies. Furthermore, we discuss how REM phosphorylation may regulate their functional versatility. Overall, through data-mining and comparative analysis of the literature, we suggest how to further study the molecular mechanisms underpinning the functions of REMs.

Eukaryotic Δ6-desaturases are microsomal enzymes which balance the synthesis of ω-3 and ω-6 C18-polyunsaturated-fatty-acids (PUFA) accordingly to their specificity. In several microalgae, includingO. tauri, plastidic C18-PUFA are specifically regulated by environmental cues suggesting an autonomous control of Δ6-desaturation of plastidic PUFA. Sequence retrieval fromO. tauridesaturases, highlighted two putative Δ6/Δ8-desaturases sequences clustering, with other microalgal homologs, apart from other characterized Δ-6 desaturases. Their overexpression in heterologous hosts, includingN. benthamianaandSynechocystis, unveiled their Δ6-desaturation activity and plastid localization.O. taurilines overexpressing these Δ6-desaturases no longer adjusted their plastidic C18-PUFA amount under phosphate starvation but didn’t show any obvious physiological alterations. Detailed lipid analyses from the various overexpressing hosts, unravelled that the substrate features involved in the Δ6-desaturase specificity importantly involved the lipid head-group and likely the non-substrate acyl-chain, in addition to the overall preference for the ω-class of the substrate acyl-chain. The most active desaturase displayed a broad range substrate specificity for plastidic lipids and a preference for ω-3 substrates, while the other was selective for ω-6 substrates, phosphatidylglycerol and 16:4-galactolipid species specific to the native host. The distribution of plastidial Δ6-desaturase products in eukaryotic hosts suggested the occurrence of C18-PUFA export from the plastid.One sentence summaryOsteococcus tauri plastidic lipid C18-PUFA remodelling involves two plastid-located cytochrome-b5 fused Δ6-desaturases with distinct preferences for both head-group and acyl-chain.

International audience; Eukaryotic Δ6-desaturases are microsomal enzymes that balance the synthesis of ω-3 and ω-6 C18-polyunsaturated fatty acids (C18-PUFAs) according to their specificity. In several microalgae, including Ostreococcus tauri, plastidic C18-PUFAs are strictly regulated by environmental cues suggesting an autonomous control of Δ6-desaturation of plastidic PUFAs. Here, we identified two putative front-end Δ6/Δ8-desaturases from Otauri that, together with putative homologs, cluster apart from other characterized Δ6-desaturases. Both were plastid-located and unambiguously displayed a Δ6-desaturation activity when overexpressed in the heterologous hosts Nicotiana benthamiana and Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, as in the native host. Detailed lipid analyses of overexpressing lines unveiled distinctive ω-class specificities, and most interestingly pointed to the importance of the lipid head-group and the nonsubstrate acyl-chain for the desaturase efficiency. One desaturase displayed a broad specificity for plastidic lipids and a preference for ω-3 substrates, while the other was more selective for ω-6 substrates and for lipid classes including phosphatidylglycerol as well as the peculiar 16:4-galactolipid species occurring in the native host. Overexpression of both Δ6-desaturases in Otauri prevented the regulation of C18-PUFA under phosphate deprivation and triggered glycerolipid fatty-acid remodeling, without causing any obvious alteration in growth or photosynthesis. Tracking fatty-acid modifications in eukaryotic hosts further suggested the export of plastidic lipids to extraplastidic compartments.

Plant aerial organs are coated with cuticular waxes, a hydrophobic layer that primarily serves as a waterproofing barrier. Cuticular wax is a mixture of aliphatic very-long-chain molecules, ranging from 22 to 48 carbons, produced in the endoplasmic reticulum of epidermal cells. Among all wax components, alkanes represent up to 80% of total wax in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) leaves. Odd-numbered alkanes and their derivatives are produced through the alkane-forming pathway. Although the chemical reactions of this pathway have been well described, the enzymatic mechanisms catalyzing these reactions remain unclear. We previously showed that a complex made of Arabidopsis ECERIFERUM1 (CER1) and CER3 catalyzes the conversion of acyl-Coenzyme A’s to alkanes with strict substrate specificity for compounds containing more than 29 carbons. To learn more about alkane biosynthesis in Arabidopsis, we characterized the biochemical specificity and physiological functions of a CER1 homolog, CER1-LIKE1. In a yeast strain engineered to produce very-long-chain fatty acids, CER1-LIKE1 interacted with CER3 and cytochrome B5 to form a functional complex leading to the production of alkanes that are of different chain lengths compared to that produced by CER1-containing complexes. Gene expression analysis showed that both CER1 and CER1-LIKE1 are differentially expressed in an organ- and tissue-specific manner. Moreover, the inactivation or overexpression of CER1-LIKE1 in Arabidopsis transgenic lines specifically impacted alkane biosynthesis and wax crystallization. Collectively, our study reports on the identification of a further plant alkane synthesis enzymatic component and supports a model in which several alkane-forming complexes with distinct chain-length specificities coexist in plants.

International audience; Membranes show a tremendous variety of lipids and proteins operating biochemistry, transport and signalling. The dynamics and the organization of membrane constituents are regulated in space and time to execute precise functions. Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that shape and govern membrane subcompartmentalization and inter-organelle contact sites still remains limited. Here, we review some reported mechanisms implicated in regulating plant membrane domains including those of plasma membrane, plastids, mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. Finally, we discuss several state-of-the-art methods that allow nowadays researchers to decipher the architecture of these structures at the molecular and atomic level.; Les membranes présentent une grande variété de lipides et de protéines qui agissent sur la biochimie, le transport et la signalisation. La dynamique et l'organisation des composants membranaires sont régulées dans l'espace et dans le temps pour exécuter des fonctions précises. Notre compréhension des mécanismes moléculaires qui façonnent et régissent la sous-compartimentation membranaire et les sites de contact inter-organiques demeure encore limitée. Ici, nous passons en revue certains mécanismes rapportés impliqués dans la régulation des domaines membranaires des plantes, y compris ceux de la membrane plasmatique, des plastides, des mitochondries et du réticulum endoplasmique. Enfin, nous discutons de plusieurs méthodes de pointe qui permettent aujourd'hui aux chercheurs de déchiffrer l'architecture de ces structures au niveau moléculaire et atomique.

REMORINs are nanodomain-organized proteins located in the plasma membrane and involved in cellular responses in plants. The dynamic assembly of the membrane nanodomains represents an essential tool of the versatile membrane barriers to control and modulate cellular functions. Nevertheless, the assembly mechanisms and protein organization strategies of nanodomains are poorly understood and many structural aspects are difficult to visualize. Using an ensemble of biophysical approaches, including solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, cryo-electron microscopy and in vivo confocal imaging, we provide first insights on the role and the structural mechanisms of REMORIN trimerization. Our results suggest that the formation of REMORIN coiled-coil trimers is essential for membrane recruitment and promotes REMORIN assembly in vitro into long filaments by trimer-trimer interactions that might participate in nanoclustering into membrane domains in vivo.

International audience; The lipid composition of plasma membrane (PM) and the corresponding detergent-insoluble membrane (DIM) fraction were analyzed with a specific focus on highly polar sphingolipids, so-called glycosyl inositol phosphorylceramides (GIPCs). Using tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) 'Bright Yellow 2' cell suspension and leaves, evidence is provided that GIPCs represent up to 40 mol % of the PM lipids. Comparative analysis of DIMs with the PM showed an enrichment of 2-hydroxylated very-long-chain fatty acid-containing GIPCs and polyglycosylated GIPCs in the DIMs. Purified antibodies raised against these GIPCs were further used for immunogold-electron microscopy strategy, revealing the distribution of polyglycosylated GIPCs in domains of 35 +/- 7 nm in the plane of the PM. Biophysical studies also showed strong interactions between GIPCs and sterols and suggested a role for very-long-chain fatty acids in the interdigitation between the two PM-composing monolayers. The ins and outs of lipid asymmetry, raft formation, and interdigitation in plant membrane biology are finally discussed.

Plants respond to pathogens through dynamic regulation of plasma membrane-bound signaling pathways. To date, how the plant plasma membrane is involved in responses to viruses is mostly unknown. Here, we show that plant cells sense the Potato virus X (PVX) COAT PROTEIN and TRIPLE GENE BLOCK 1 proteins and subsequently trigger the activation of a membrane-bound calcium-dependent kinase. We show that theArabidopsis thalianaCALCIUM-DEPENDENT PROTEIN KINASE 3-interacts with group 1 REMORINsin vivo, phosphorylates the intrinsically disordered N-terminal domain of the Group 1 REMORIN REM1.3, and restricts PVX cell-to-cell movement. REM1.3-s phospho-status defines its plasma membrane nanodomain organization and is crucial for REM1.3-dependent restriction of PVX cell-to-cell movement by regulation of callose deposition at plasmodesmata. This study unveils plasma membrane nanodomain-associated molecular events underlying the plant immune response to viruses.

TThe Triple Gene Block 1 (TGBp1) protein encoded by the Potato virus X is a multifunctional protein that acts as a suppressor of RNA silencing or facilitates the passage of virus from cell to cell by promoting the plasmodesmata opening. We previously showed that the membrane raft protein StRemorin1.3 is able to impair PVX infection. Here, we show that overexpressed StRemorin1.3 does not impair the silencing suppressor activity of TGBp1, but affects its ability to increase plasmodesmata permeability. A similar effect on plasmodesmata permeability was observed with other movement proteins, suggesting that REM is a general regulator of plasmodesmal size exclusion limit. These results add to our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the StREM1.3 role in virus infection. Fil: Perraki, Artemis. Universite de Bordeaux; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Francia Fil: Binaghi, Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; Argentina Fil: Mecchia, Martin Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; Argentina Fil: Gronnier, Julien. Universite de Bordeaux; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Francia Fil: German Retana, Sylvie. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; Francia Fil: Mongrand, Sébastien. Universite de Bordeaux; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Francia Fil: Bayer, Emmanuelle. Universite de Bordeaux; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Francia Fil: Zelada, Alicia Mercedes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; Argentina Fil: Germain, Véronique. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Francia. Universite de Bordeaux; Francia

What are the most abundant sphingolipids on earth? The answer is Glycosyl Inositol Phosphoryl Ceramides (GIPCs) present in fungi and the green lineage. In this review, we discuss the putative role of plant GIPCs in the lipid bilayer asymmetry, in the lateral organization of membrane rafts and in the very long chain fatty acid inter-leaflet coupling of lipids in the plant plasma membrane (PM). A special focus on the structural similarities -and putative functions- of GIPCs is discussed by comparison with animal gangliosides, structural homologs of plant GIPCs.