Sugar coordinates plant defense signaling

Pathogen recognition triggers energy-intensive defense systems. Although successful defense should depend on energy availability, how metabolic information is communicated to defense remains unclear. We show that sugar, especially glucose-6-phosphate (G6P), is critical in coordinating defense in Arabidopsis. Under sugar-sufficient conditions, phosphorylation levels of calcium-dependent protein kinase 5 (CPK5) are elevated by G6P-mediated suppression of protein phosphatases, enhancing defense responses before pathogen invasion. Subsequently, recognition of bacterial flagellin activates sugar transporters, leading to increased cellular G6P, which elicits CPK5-independent signaling promoting synthesis of the phytohormone salicylic acid (SA) for antibacterial defense. In contrast, while perception of fungal chitin does not promote sugar influx or SA accumulation, chitin-induced synthesis of the antifungal compound camalexin requires basal sugar influx activity. By monitoring sugar levels, plants determine defense levels and execute appropriate outputs against bacterial and fungal pathogens. Together, our findings provide a comprehensive view of the roles of sugar in defense.

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