Functional characterization of CEBiP and CERK1 homologs in arabidopsis and rice reveals the presence of different chitin receptor systems in plants

Plant Cell Physiol. 2012 Oct;53(10):1696-706. doi: 10.1093/pcp/pcs113. Epub 2012 Aug 13.

Abstract

Chitin is a representative microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP) molecule for various fungi and induces immune responses in many plant species. It has been clarified that the chitin signaling in rice requires a receptor kinase OsCERK1 and a receptor-like protein (Os)CEBiP, which specifically binds chitin oligosaccharides. On the other hand, Arabidopsis requires a receptor kinase (At)CERK1 for chitin signaling but it is not clear whether the plant also requires a CEBiP-like molecule for chitin perception/signaling. To clarify the similarity/difference of the chitin receptor in these two model plants, we first characterized CEBiP homologs in Arabidopsis. Only one of three CEBiP homologs, AtCEBiP (LYM2), showed a high-affinity binding for chitin oligosaccharides similar to rice CEBiP. AtCEBiP also represented the major chitin-binding protein in the Arabidopsis membrane. However, the single/triple knockout (KO) mutants of Arabidopsis CEBiP homologs and the overexpressor of AtCEBiP showed chitin-induced defense responses similar to wild-type Arabidopsis, indicating that AtCEBiP is biochemically functional as a chitin-binding protein but does not contribute to signaling. Studies of the chitin binding properties of the ectodomains of At/OsCERK1 and the chimeric receptors consisting of ecto/cytosolic domains of these molecules indicated that AtCERK1 is sufficient for chitin perception by itself.

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / immunology
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis / microbiology
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Chitin / metabolism*
  • Cytosol / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Nicotiana / genetics
  • Nicotiana / metabolism
  • Oryza / immunology
  • Oryza / metabolism*
  • Oryza / microbiology
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • LYM1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • LYM2 protein, Arabidopsis
  • LYM3 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Plant Proteins
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Chitin
  • CERK1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases