Functional Characterization of CEBiP and CERK1 Homologs in Arabidopsis and Rice Reveals the Presence of Different Chitin Receptor Systems in Plants

2012/08/13 by Tomonori Shinya, Noriko Motoyama, Asahi Ikeda +5 · 208 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Chemistry · #Arabidopsis #Arabidopsis thaliana #Biochemistry #Biology #Cell biology #Chemistry #Chitin #Gene #Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis #Mutant #Plant Parasitism and Resistance #Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity #Receptor #Signal transduction

paper · pdf · doi:10.1093/pcp/pcs113

published in Plant and Cell Physiology 53(10), 1696-1706 (Oxford University Press)

openalex publication_date 2012/08/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

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.

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• Autophosphorylation of Specific Threonine and Tyrosine Residues in Arabidopsis CERK1 is Essential for the Activation of Chitin-Induced Immune Signaling
• Building blocks toward cell surface receptor-mediated immunity in plants
• OsSYMRK Plays an Essential Role in AM Symbiosis in Rice (Oryza sativa)
• Genomic Characterization of Plant Immune Receptor Genes Reveals the Role of Alfalfa MsRLK725 in Salt Tolerance and Disease Resistance
• Overexpression of plant chitin receptors in wheat confers broad‐spectrum resistance to fungal diseases
• How membranes shape plant symbioses: signaling and transport in nodulation and arbuscular mycorrhiza. [europepmc]
• Role of LysM receptors in chitin-triggered plant innate immunity. [europepmc]
• MAMP (microbe-associated molecular pattern) triggered immunity in plants. [europepmc]
• Presence of LYM2 dependent but CERK1 independent disease resistance in Arabidopsis. [europepmc]
• Fungal effector Ecp6 outcompetes host immune receptor for chitin binding through intrachain LysM dimerization. [europepmc]
• The role of the cell wall in plant immunity. [europepmc]
• Lectin domains at the frontiers of plant defense. [europepmc]
• The kinase LYK5 is a major chitin receptor in Arabidopsis and forms a chitin-induced complex with related kinase CERK1. [europepmc]
• Rho family GTPase-dependent immunity in plants and animals. [europepmc]
• Molecular effects of resistance elicitors from biological origin and their potential for crop protection. [europepmc]
• How legumes recognize rhizobia. [europepmc]
• Chitin Nanofiber Elucidates the Elicitor Activity of Polymeric Chitin in Plants. [europepmc]
• Elucidating the Role of Effectors in Plant-Fungal Interactions: Progress and Challenges. [europepmc]
• Plant immunity and symbiosis signaling mediated by LysM receptors. [europepmc]
• Classification and phylogenetic analyses of the Arabidopsis and tomato G-type lectin receptor kinases. [europepmc]
• Evolutionary History of Plant LysM Receptor Proteins Related to Root Endosymbiosis. [europepmc]
• LysM Receptor-Like Kinase and LysM Receptor-Like Protein Families: An Update on Phylogeny and Functional Characterization. [europepmc]
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• Peat substrate amended with chitin modulates the N-cycle, siderophore and chitinase responses in the lettuce rhizobiome. [europepmc]
• A combination of chitooligosaccharide and lipochitooligosaccharide recognition promotes arbuscular mycorrhizal associations in Medicago truncatula. [europepmc]
• Elicitor and Receptor Molecules: Orchestrators of Plant Defense and Immunity. [europepmc]
• NADPH Oxidases: The Vital Performers and Center Hubs during Plant Growth and Signaling. [europepmc]
• Overexpression of an apple LysM-containing protein gene, MdCERK1-2, confers improved resistance to the pathogenic fungus, Alternaria alternata, in Nicotiana benthamiana. [europepmc]
• Stomatal immunity against fungal invasion comprises not only chitin-induced stomatal closure but also chitosan-induced guard cell death. [europepmc]
• Alginate oligosaccharides trigger multiple defense responses in tobacco and induce resistance to Phytophthora infestans . [europepmc]

Related

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• Autophosphorylation of Specific Threonine and Tyrosine Residues in Arabidopsis CERK1 is Essential for the Activation of Chitin-Induced Immune Signaling
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• Arabidopsis E3 ubiquitin ligase PLANT U‐BOX13 (PUB13) regulates chitin receptor LYSIN MOTIF RECEPTOR KINASE5 (LYK5) protein abundance
• OsSYMRK Plays an Essential Role in AM Symbiosis in Rice (Oryza sativa)