Journal: Frontiers in Plant Science
Article Title: Discovery that PACAP, a mammalian neuropeptide, activates plant immunity through chemical screening
doi: 10.3389/fpls.2026.1787727
Figure Lengend Snippet: PACAP functions as an elicitor to trigger plant immune responses. (A) Quantification of calcium influx in Col-Q seedlings expressing aequorin. Luminescence signals were recorded for a period of 30 min following treatment of Col-Q seedlings with PACAP 1-38, PACAP 6-38, or PACAP 1–27 at concentrations of 20, 50, and 100 μM, as indicated. Seven-day-old seedlings were preloaded overnight with coelenterazine before measurement. Values are means ± SEM (n = 8 biological replicates). Col-Q: Col-aequorin. (B) Calcium ion influx was measured in aequorin transgenic seedlings for 30 min after treatment with mock (sterile water), 100 nM flg22, 50 μM PACAP 1-38, 50 μM PACAP 6-38, or 50 μM PACAP 1-27. (C) PACAP induces MAPK activation. Arabidopsis seedlings were soaked in 50 μM PACAP 1-38, 50 μM PACAP 6-38, or 50 μM PACAP 1–27 for the indicated times, followed by immunoblotting with an anti-p44/p42 antibody. 100 nM flg22 served as a positive control. Ponceau S staining served as the loading control. (D) PACAP 1–38 induces the expression of defense-related marker genes FRK1 and WRKY29 . Col-0 seedlings were soaked in 25 μM PACAP 1–38 for 0, 2, 4, and 6 h before analysis of FRK1 and WRKY29 transcript levels by RT-qPCR. Flg22 treatment served as a positive control. Values are means ± SEM (n = 3 biological replicates). * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001(two-tailed Student’s t test).
Article Snippet: Equal amounts of protein (14 μL per lane) were subjected to SDS–PAGE using 4–20% gradient gels and transferred to PVDF membranes (Millipore) at 100 V for 1 h. Phosphorylated MPK3 and MPK6 were detected using rabbit monoclonal anti-phospho-p44/42 MAPK (Erk1/2) antibody (Cell Signaling Technology, Shanghai, China; 1:2000).
Techniques: Expressing, Transgenic Assay, Sterility, Activation Assay, Western Blot, Positive Control, Staining, Control, Marker, Quantitative RT-PCR, Two Tailed Test