Metformin blocks BIK1-mediated CPK28 phosphorylation and enhances plant immunity.

Bao, Yazhou; Zhang, Qian; Zhu, Hai; Pei, Yong; Zhao, Yaning; Li, Yixin; Ji, Peiyun; Du, Dandan; Peng, Hao; Xu, Guangyuan; Wang, Xiaodan; Yin, Zhiyuan; Ai, Gan; Liang, Xiangxiu; Dou, Daolong

Bao, Yazhou; Zhang, Qian; Zhu, Hai; Pei, Yong; Zhao, Yaning; Li, Yixin; Ji, Peiyun; Du, Dandan; Peng, Hao; Xu, Guangyuan; Wang, Xiaodan; Yin, Zhiyuan; Ai, Gan; Liang, Xiangxiu; Dou, Daolong.

Afiliação

Bao Y; College of Plant Protection, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
Zhang Q; College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
Zhu H; College of Plant Protection, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
Pei Y; College of Plant Protection, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
Zhao Y; College of Plant Protection, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
Li Y; College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
Ji P; College of Plant Protection, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
Du D; College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
Peng H; USDA Agricultural Research Service, San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center, Parlier, CA 93648, USA.
Xu G; College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
Wang X; College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
Yin Z; College of Plant Protection, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
Ai G; College of Plant Protection, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
Liang X; College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China. Electronic address: liangxiangxiu@scau.edu.cn.
Dou D; College of Plant Protection, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: ddou@njau.edu.cn.

J Adv Res ; 2024 Mar 03.

Article em En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38442853

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION:

Metformin (MET), derived from Galega officinalis, stands as the primary first-line medication for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Despite its well-documented benefits in mammalian cellular processes, its functions and underlying mechanisms in plants remain unclear.

OBJECTIVES:

This study aimed to elucidate MET's role in inducing plant immunity and investigate the associated mechanisms.

METHODS:

To investigate the impact of MET on enhancing plant immune responses, we conducted assays measuring defense gene expression, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation, and pathogen infection. Additionally, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and microscale thermophoresis (MST) techniques were employed to identify MET targets. Protein-protein interactions were analyzed using a luciferase complementation assay and a co-immunoprecipitation assay.

RESULTS:

Our findings revealed that MET boosts plant disease resistance by activating MAPKs, upregulating the expression of downstream defense genes, and fortifying the ROS burst. CALCIUM-DEPENDENT PROTEIN KINASE 28 (CPK28) was identified as a target of MET. It inhibited the interaction between BOTRYTIS-INDUCED KINASE 1 (BIK1) and CPK28, blocking CPK28 threonine 76 (T76) transphosphorylation by BIK1, and alleviating the negative regulation of immune responses by CPK28. Moreover, MET enhanced disease resistance in tomato, pepper, and soybean plants.