Nematode CLE signaling in Arabidopsis requires CLAVATA2 and CORYNE

Authors: REPLOGLE, AMY - University Of Missouri; WANG, JIANJING - University Of Missouri; BLECKMANN, ANDREA - Heinrich-Heine University; HUSSEY, RICHARD - University Of Georgia; BAUM, THOMAS - Iowa State University; SAWA, SHINICHIRO - University Of Tokyo; DAVIS, ERIC - North Carolina State University; Wang, Xiaohong; SIMON, RUDIGER - Heinrich-Heine University; MITCHUM, MELISSA - University Of Missouri

Submitted to: Plant Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/14/2010
Publication Date: 12/15/2010
Citation: Replogle, A., Wang, J., Bleckmann, A., Hussey, R.S., Baum, T.J., Sawa, S., Davis, E.L., Wang, X., Simon, R., Mitchum, M.G. 2010. Nematode CLE signaling in Arabidopsis requires CLAVATA2 and CORYNE. Plant Journal. 65:430-440.

Interpretive Summary: Plant-parasitic cyst nematodes are agriculturally-important pests causing significant yield losses on many crop plants. Recent studies revealed that cyst nematodes secret CLAVATA3/ESR (CLE)-like proteins that are required for successful nematode infection. However, the host receptors that interact with nematode-secreted CLE peptides have not been identified. In this study, we used the model plant Arabidopsis, a host for the sugarbeet cyst nematode, to investigate a role for CLV2 and CORYNE (CRN) in nematode CLE signaling. Our results revealed for the first time that CLV2 and CRN are required for perceiving nematode CLE signals to promote successful nematode parasitism. This study provides new knowledge in nematode CLE-mediated parasitism, suggesting new targets that may be useful for generating transgenic crops with novel resistance to cyst nematodes.

Technical Abstract: Plant-parasitic cyst nematodes secrete CLAVATA3 (CLV3)/ESR(CLE)-like effector proteins. These proteins have been shown to act as ligand mimics of plant CLE peptides and are required for successful nematode infection; however, the receptors for nematode CLE-like peptides have not been identified. Here we demonstrate that CLV2 and CORYNE (CRN), members of the receptor kinase family, are required for nematode CLE signaling. Exogenous peptide assays and overexpression of nematode CLEs in Arabidopsis demonstrated that CLV2 and CRN are required for nematode CLE perception. In addition, promoter-reporter assays showed that both receptors are expressed in nematode-induced syncytia. Lastly, infection assays with receptor mutants revealed a decrease in both nematode infection and syncytia size. Taken together, our results indicate that nematode CLE perception by CLV2 and CRN is not only required for successful nematode infection, but is also involved in the formation and/or maintenance of nematode-induced syncytia.