Induction of GLUTAMINE DUMPER1 reveals a link between amino acid export, abscisic acid, and immune responses

Amino acid homeostasis in plants is finely tuned to match developmental needs and response to adverse environments. Over-expression of the single-transmembrane domain protein GLUTAMINE DUMPER1 (GDU1) leads to increased amino acid export, reduced growth and constitutive induction of immune responses. We used an inducible gene expression system to tease apart the primary and secondary effects caused by GDU1, and demonstrated that the primary effect is increasing amino acid export, followed by increased amino acid content and abscisic acid (ABA) response, and a subsequent activation of defense responses. The GDU1-mediated hypersensitivity to ABA partially depended on the E3 ubiquitin ligase LOSS-OF-GDU1 2 (LOG2), a known GDU1 interactor. More importantly, the lysine catabolite pipecolic acid played a pivotal role in the GDU1-induced defense responses. This work unravels a novel relationship between amino acid transport, ABA and defense responses, potentially mediated by the GDU1-LOG2 complex, critical for understanding how plants respond to amino acid imbalance. ONE SENTENCE SUMMARYGenetically induced disturbance of amino acid homeostasis sequentially triggers responses to abiotic stresses and plant defenses to pathogens in Arabidopsis through undefined sensing mechanisms