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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #389740
Research Project: Emerging Biotechnologies for Developing Improved Pest and Pathogen Resistant Sugar Beet

Location: Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory

Title: The conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex functionality in relation to plant defense

Author
item Klink, Vincent
item LAWAJU, BISHO - North Dakota State University
item SHARMA, KESHAV - University Of Minnesota
item NIRAULA, PRAKASH - Delaware State University
item ALKHAROUF, NADIM - Towson University
item LAWRENCE, KATHERINE - Auburn University

Submitted to: Journal of Plant Interactions
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/8/2022
Publication Date: 2/27/2022
Citation: Klink, V.P., Lawaju, B.R., Sharma, K., Niraula, P.M., Alkharouf, N.W., Lawrence, K.S. 2022. The conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex functionality in relation to plant defense. Journal of Plant Interactions. 17:344-360. https://doi.org/10.1080/17429145.2022.2041743.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17429145.2022.2041743

Interpretive Summary: The conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex is a multiprotein unit serving basic functions in cell physiology. In animals, severe developmental defects and death occur as a consequence of natural mutations in COG complex genes. In plants, a defense role has been observed in the shoot and more recently in the root. A description is provided here to synthesize the recent literature on COG complex function, in relation to basic physiological processes, growth and defense to pathogens. The article will also highlight the observation that alternate splice variants perform an important role in how the COG complex functions in specific biological contexts.

Technical Abstract: The plant endomembrane system performs a myriad of tasks relating to the basic physiological processes of the cell. Among the components of the endomembrane system is the conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex, which maintains correct Golgi structure and function during retrograde trafficking. Analyses have shown that the elimination of even one component leads to the failure of COG complex functionality. Naturally occurring COG complex mutants have been identified in animals and plants. In animals, the COG mutations lead to severe developmental defects and death. Experiments in Hordeum vulgare (wheat) have identified a defense role for COG3 (HvCOG3) to fungal infection in shoots. Recent experiments have identified a fundamental role that the plant COG complex has in defense in the root, involving cell-type specific expression of paralogs and in some cases alternative splice variants. These observations are expanded on further here, including a description of important agricultural crops.