Non-Specific Phospholipase C2 (NPC2) in plant immune responses in Arabidopsis

The non-specific phospholipases C (NPC) are recently discovered new subclass of plant phospholipases. Most of them have not yet been characterised thoroughly.

Krčková et al. prepare and purify Arabidopsis thaliana NPC2 in a heterologous system, and experimentally proved its phospholipase activity in vitro. Using lines overexpressing NPC2: GFP. They determine its endomembrane (preferentially Golgi apparatus) localisation. NPC2 transcription is strongly downregulated under pathogen attack or by treatment with elicitors or bacterial effectors. Furthermore, when treated with an elicitor, lines constitutively overexpressing NPC2 produce higher level of reactive oxygen species – a hallmark of plant immune reaction. These findings imply NPC2 function in plant immunity.