Ethylene signaling modulates cortical microtubule reassembly in response to salt stress

Ethylene is an important mediator during plant adaptation to salt stress. During salt stress, ethylene has been shown to promote microtubule (MT) stability and organization. Dou et al. further examine this pathway using Ag⁺ to block ethylene signaling in addition to using various mutants. In wildtype and ethylene overexpression mutants, adding NaCl and Ag⁺ hastened seedling death compared to salt alone. However, mutants which constitutively active ethylene signaling were resistant to salt treatment regardless of Ag⁺ presence. MT depolymerization immediately following salt stress was also unaffected by Ag⁺ but MT reassembly in later salt stress response was blocked by exogenous Ag⁺. Furthermore, the MT stabilizing proteins EIN3 and EIN1 were also found to be required for the later MT reassembly during salt stress. These data elucidate the mechanism of ethylene signaling and exemplifies the importance of MT reassembly during the later stages of salt stress. (Summary by Alecia Biel) Plant Physiol. 10.1104/pp.17.01124.