Abstract
Plants can detect invading pathogens through the recognition of so-called microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) and initiate various defense responses. It has been believed that the MAMP-triggered defense responses play a major role in the basal resistance against various potential pathogens. On the other hand, it has been becoming clear that some pathogenic/symbiotic microorganisms inhibit or escape from such a plant defense machinery for successful infection.
Chitin, a major component of fungal cell walls, is a representative fungal MAMP and known to trigger defense responses in a wide range of plant species. We recently identified two LysM receptors, CEBiP and CERK1/OsCERK1, involved in the perception of chitin elicitor in rice and Arabidopsis1-3) and are analyzing the signaling mechanism by these receptors. In this symposium, present situation of such studies as well as the pathogenic/symbiotic interactions relating to chitin signaling will be discussed.
1)Kaku et al., PNAS, 103, 11086 (2006); 2)Miya et al., ibid, 104, 19613 (2007); 3)Shimizu et al., Plant J., 64, 204 (2010).
