Unveiling what makes the reactive oxygen species burst transient: the role of PB1CP in plant immunity

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One of the earliest responses of the plant cell to pathogen recognition is the transient production of reactive oxygen species (ROS; Wu et al., 2023). Recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) by cell surface-localized pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) initiates transient ROS production as part of early pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) responses. Similarly, the recognition of pathogen-derived effectors by intracellular nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) receptors leads to sustained ROS accumulation to potentiate effector-triggered immunity (ETI). ROS serve as important signaling molecules, regulating downstream responses, and their production is tightly controlled to prevent detrimental effects (Castro et al., 2021). In the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, pathogen-derived ROS production mostly depends on the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase RESPIRATORY BURST OXIDASE HOMOLOG D (RBOHD; Torres et al., 2002). In recent years, many mechanisms that activate this oxidase have been reported, including phosphorylation by various kinases, with a central role for the receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase (RLCK) BOTRYTIS-INDUCED KINASE 1 (BIK1; Kadota et al., 2014; Li et al., 2014). However, our knowledge is limited when it comes to the mechanisms that deactivate the oxidase and make ROS production transient. In an article published in this issue of New Phytologist, Goto et al. (2024; 1763–1779) report a new negative regulator of RBOHD activity that antagonizes BIK1 during PTI responses and may contribute to fine-tuning the production of ROS in immunity.

The author thanks the support received from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (grant PID-2021-126006OB-100) and from the ‘Severo Ochoa Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D’ by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) of Spain (grant CEX2020-000999-S, 2022-2025, to the CBGP).

With funding from the Spanish government through the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2020‐000999‐S)

Peer reviewed