Receptor-mediated activation of a plant Ca(2+)-permeable ion channel involved in pathogen defense

Pathogen recognition at the plant cell surface typically results in the initiation of a multicomponent defense response. Transient influx of Ca(2+) across the plasma membrane is postulated to be part of the signaling chain leading to pathogen resistance. Patch-clamp analysis of parsley protoplasts revealed a novel Ca(2+)-permeable, La(3+)-sensitive plasma membrane ion channel of large conductance (309 pS in 240 mM CaCl(2)). At an extracellular Ca(2+) concentration of 1 mM, which is representative of the plant cell apoplast, unitary channel conductance was determined to be 80 pS. This ion channel (LEAC, for large conductance elicitor-activated ion channel) is reversibly activated upon treatment of parsley protoplasts with an oligopeptide elicitor derived from a cell wall protein of Phytophthora sojae. Structural features of the elicitor found previously to be essential for receptor binding, induction of defense-related gene expression, and phytoalexin formation are identical to those required for activation of LEAC. Thus, receptor-mediated stimulation of this channel appears to be causally involved in the signaling cascade triggering pathogen defense in parsley.