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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Urbana, Illinois » Soybean/maize Germplasm, Pathology, and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #349031
Title: A novel receptor-like kinase involved in fungal pathogen defense in Arabidopsis thaliana

Author
item RAY, JUSTIN - University Of Alabama
item YANG, XIN - University Of Alabama
item KONG, FENG - University Of Alabama
item GUO, TINGWEI - University Of Alabama
item DENG, FENGYAN - University Of Alabama
item Clough, Steven
item RAMONELL, KATRINA - University Of Alabama

Submitted to: Journal of Phytopathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/15/2017
Publication Date: 3/26/2018
Citation: Ray, J., Yang, X., Kong, F., Guo, T., Deng, F., Clough, S.J., Ramonell, K. 2018. A novel receptor-like kinase involved in fungal pathogen defense in Arabidopsis thaliana. Journal of Phytopathology. 166:506-515. https://doi.org/10.1111/jph.12711.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jph.12711

Interpretive Summary: Plants are under constant attack from a variety of disease causing organisms. Lacking an adaptive immune system, plants repel pathogen attack via an array of pathogen recognition machinery. Receptor-like kinases (RLKs) are involved in the recognition of pathogens and turn on numerous resistance responses. We have identified an RLK in the model research plant, Arabidopsis, that is induced by molecules found in fungal pathogens. Making mutation in this RLK made the plants more susceptible to mulitple fungal pathogens but not bacterial pathogens, showing that this RLK is normally involved in defense to fungi. The results of this study show that we successfully identified a critical component of plant immunity against fungal pathogens and will be useful to other plant pathology and genetic researchers.

Technical Abstract: Plants are under constant attack from a variety of disease causing organisms. Lacking an adaptive immune system, plants repel pathogen attack via an array of pathogen recognition machinery. Receptor-like kinases (RLKs) are involved in the recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and activate resistance pathways against broad classes of pathogens. We have identified Powdery Mildew Resistant Kinase 1, an Arabidopsis gene encoding an RLK that is highly induced by chitin at early time points and localizes to the plasma membrane. Knock-out mutants in pmrk1 are more susceptible to both Golovinomyces cichoracearum and Plectosphaerella cucumerina. Our data show that PMRK1 is essential in early stages of defense against fungi, and provide evidence that PMRK1 may be unique to chitin-induced signaling pathways. The results of this study indicate that PMRK1 is a critical component of plant innate immunity against fungal pathogens.