Unlocking the components of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in Glycine max activated during herbivory

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MPKs) substantially govern plant immune reactions. Critical damage caused by insect feeding is a seroius issue that hinders agricultural productivity. MPK circuits have significance in modulating plants’ ability to defend against herbivory or mechanical damage. Add...

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Main Authors: Megha Kumari, Indrakant K. Singh, Kshama Sharma, Archana Singh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Plant Stress
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667064X25001071
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author Megha Kumari
Indrakant K. Singh
Kshama Sharma
Archana Singh
author_facet Megha Kumari
Indrakant K. Singh
Kshama Sharma
Archana Singh
author_sort Megha Kumari
collection DOAJ
description Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MPKs) substantially govern plant immune reactions. Critical damage caused by insect feeding is a seroius issue that hinders agricultural productivity. MPK circuits have significance in modulating plants’ ability to defend against herbivory or mechanical damage. Additionally, the expression of transcription factors and genes linked with immune response is significantly regulated by MPKs. Nevertheless, limited knowledge is available about how MPKs in crop plants such as Glycine max (soybean) reacts to insect attacks. Moreover, components of MPK pathway activated during developmental processes as well as stress conditions varies in different plants. Therefore, it is crucial to decipher components of MPK pathway in soybean activated during herbivory. The elements of the MPK network have been examined in soybean, which is heavily damaged by Spodoptera litura (cutworm), resulting in an enormous decrease in crop yield. Genome-wide identification demonstrated >60 % homology of G max's MPKs with Arabidopsis thaliana’s MPKs. We have further performed expression analysis of GmMPKs, GmMKKs, and GmMEKK-like MPKKKs after S. litura feeding, mechanical injury, and signaling compounds [MeJA (methyl-jasmonates), Eth (ethylene), SA (salicylic acid)] treatment, which showed their differential expression demonstrating their involvement during plant defense. Additionally, selected GmMPKs, GmMKKs, and GmMPKKKs showing differential expression, were utilized for protein modeling and interaction analysis to predict MPK components activated during herbivory. This research article elucidates the components of the MPK network (GmMEKK1–2 - GmMKK2–2/GmMKK9–3 - GmMPK4/GmMPK6) engaged in soybean during cutworm infestation, which needs further validation through in vitro and in vivo experiments.
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spelling doaj-art-6945a6cb7d0945d9a5b848822ec9e8fa2025-08-20T03:13:51ZengElsevierPlant Stress2667-064X2025-06-011610084210.1016/j.stress.2025.100842Unlocking the components of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in Glycine max activated during herbivoryMegha Kumari0Indrakant K. Singh1Kshama Sharma2Archana Singh3Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi 110021, IndiaMolecular Biology Research Lab, Department of Zoology, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, Kalkaji, New Delhi, 110019, IndiaDepartment of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi 110021, IndiaDepartment of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi 110021, India; Delhi School of Climate Change and Sustainability, Institution of Eminence, Maharishi Karnad Bhawan, University of Delhi, Delhi, India; Corresponding author.Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MPKs) substantially govern plant immune reactions. Critical damage caused by insect feeding is a seroius issue that hinders agricultural productivity. MPK circuits have significance in modulating plants’ ability to defend against herbivory or mechanical damage. Additionally, the expression of transcription factors and genes linked with immune response is significantly regulated by MPKs. Nevertheless, limited knowledge is available about how MPKs in crop plants such as Glycine max (soybean) reacts to insect attacks. Moreover, components of MPK pathway activated during developmental processes as well as stress conditions varies in different plants. Therefore, it is crucial to decipher components of MPK pathway in soybean activated during herbivory. The elements of the MPK network have been examined in soybean, which is heavily damaged by Spodoptera litura (cutworm), resulting in an enormous decrease in crop yield. Genome-wide identification demonstrated >60 % homology of G max's MPKs with Arabidopsis thaliana’s MPKs. We have further performed expression analysis of GmMPKs, GmMKKs, and GmMEKK-like MPKKKs after S. litura feeding, mechanical injury, and signaling compounds [MeJA (methyl-jasmonates), Eth (ethylene), SA (salicylic acid)] treatment, which showed their differential expression demonstrating their involvement during plant defense. Additionally, selected GmMPKs, GmMKKs, and GmMPKKKs showing differential expression, were utilized for protein modeling and interaction analysis to predict MPK components activated during herbivory. This research article elucidates the components of the MPK network (GmMEKK1–2 - GmMKK2–2/GmMKK9–3 - GmMPK4/GmMPK6) engaged in soybean during cutworm infestation, which needs further validation through in vitro and in vivo experiments.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667064X25001071MPKDefenseHerbivoryCrop plantsCutworm
spellingShingle Megha Kumari
Indrakant K. Singh
Kshama Sharma
Archana Singh
Unlocking the components of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in Glycine max activated during herbivory
Plant Stress
MPK
Defense
Herbivory
Crop plants
Cutworm
title Unlocking the components of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in Glycine max activated during herbivory
title_full Unlocking the components of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in Glycine max activated during herbivory
title_fullStr Unlocking the components of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in Glycine max activated during herbivory
title_full_unstemmed Unlocking the components of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in Glycine max activated during herbivory
title_short Unlocking the components of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in Glycine max activated during herbivory
title_sort unlocking the components of mitogen activated protein kinase pathway in glycine max activated during herbivory
topic MPK
Defense
Herbivory
Crop plants
Cutworm
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667064X25001071
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