1. The fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae suppresses innate immunity by modulating a host potassium channel.
- Author
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Shi X, Long Y, He F, Zhang C, Wang R, Zhang T, Wu W, Hao Z, Wang Y, Wang GL, and Ning Y
- Subjects
- Host-Pathogen Interactions genetics, Host-Pathogen Interactions immunology, Immunity, Innate genetics, Magnaporthe pathogenicity, Organisms, Genetically Modified, Oryza genetics, Oryza immunology, Plant Diseases genetics, Plant Diseases immunology, Plant Diseases microbiology, Plants, Genetically Modified, Potassium Channels metabolism, Virulence genetics, Immune Evasion genetics, Magnaporthe physiology, Oryza microbiology, Potassium Channels genetics
- Abstract
Potassium (K+) is required by plants for growth and development, and also contributes to immunity against pathogens. However, it has not been established whether pathogens modulate host K+ signaling pathways to enhance virulence and subvert host immunity. Here, we show that the effector protein AvrPiz-t from the rice blast pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae targets a K+ channel to subvert plant immunity. AvrPiz-t interacts with the rice plasma-membrane-localized K+ channel protein OsAKT1 and specifically suppresses the OsAKT1-mediated K+ currents. Genetic and phenotypic analyses show that loss of OsAKT1 leads to decreased K+ content and reduced resistance against M. oryzae. Strikingly, AvrPiz-t interferes with the association of OsAKT1 with its upstream regulator, the cytoplasmic kinase OsCIPK23, which also plays a positive role in K+ absorption and resistance to M. oryzae. Furthermore, we show a direct correlation between blast disease resistance and external K+ status in rice plants. Together, our data present a novel mechanism by which a pathogen suppresses plant host immunity by modulating a host K+ channel.
- Published
- 2018
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