A nuclear tRNA-derived fragment triggers immunity in Arabidopsis.

ABSTRACT: In Arabidopsis, effector-triggered immunity (ETI) against avirulent Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) correlates with the rapid, Dicer-Like 1 (DCL1)-dependent nuclear accumulation of a 31-nt 5'-tRNA fragment derived from Asp-tRNA (tRF^31Asp2). Several tRFs, including tRF^31Asp2, are induced at early stages of infection and associate with AGO2 in the nucleus. Infiltrating Arabidopsis leaves with synthetic tRF^31Asp2 induces over 500 defense-associated genes, conferring immunity against virulent and avirulent Pst as well as aphids, while tRF^31Asp2 depletion compromises resistance to avirulent Pst. The biological activity of tRF^31Asp2 requires its 5' sequence and predicted stem-loop structure, and its loading into AGO2 or related clade m

SUBMITTER: Kim SI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11962134 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature