The jasmonate receptor COI1 is required for AtPep1-induced immune responses in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Objective: Plant cells detect the presence of potentially pathogenic microorganisms in the apoplast via plasma membrane-localized receptors. Activated receptors trigger phosphorylation-mediated signaling cascades that protect the cell from infection. It is thought that signaling triggered by the detection of exogenous signals, such as bacterial flagellin, can be amplified by endogenous signals, such as hormones or debris caused by cell damage, to potentiate robust immune responses. For example, perception of flagellin and other microbial molecules results in increased expression of endogenous PROPEP transcripts that give rise to AtPep peptides which also activate immune signaling. Phytohormones such as methyl-jasmonate also induce PROPEP expression, suggestive of additional hormone-mediated feedback loops that similarly amplify immune signaling. The current study aimed to determine if perception of jasmonate is genetically required for AtPep1-induced immune responses in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Results: We assessed several AtPep1-induced immune responses in plants expressing a non-functional variant of the jasmonate receptor CORONATINE-INSENSITIVE 1 (COI1). We found that coi1-16 mutants are severely compromised in some AtPep1-induced immune responses, while other AtPep1-induced responses are maintained but reduced. Our findings build on previously published work and suggest that JA perception plays a role in immune responses triggered by AtPep1.