Mechanisms of CERK1 co-receptor-mediated plant defense and symbiotic responses

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18H02208
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 39040:Plant protection science-related
• Research Institution: Meiji University
• Principal Investigator: KAKU HANAE 明治大学, 農学部, 専任教授 (70409499)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 植物免疫 / キチン / LysM受容体 / 防御応答 / 共生応答

Outline of Final Research Achievements

CERK1 is a LysM receptor kinase involved in the initiation of defense responses derived from carbohydrate ligand of bacterial and fungal cell walls. OsCERK1 is a bifunctional receptor, serving not only for the chitin/LPS-triggered defense response but also for arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis in rice, although the regulatory mechanism of these contradictory system is still unknown. In this study, we identified OsCERK2, which is structurally and functionally similar to OsCERK1. We found that the extra/intracellular region of CERK1 plays an important rule for the receptor complex formation to initiate the defense and symbiosis responses. We also indicated that several phosphorylation sites of AtCERK1 have critical function for the regulation of activation and downstream signaling.

Free Research Field

植物免疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

世界の農作物は年間十数％が病害により失われ、この損失は数億人の食糧に匹敵する。しかし、植物はそう簡単に病気にはならない。植物には侵入する微生物のもつ特有な分子(MAMPs)を非自己として検出・排除する基礎的抵抗性(植物免疫)を持っている。本研究では植物免疫に関与するLysM受容体の受容・活性化機構の解析の成果は、植物の防御応答起動機構の解明だけでなく、“植物がLysM受容体を介して、どのように病原菌と共生菌の受け入れと相反する応答の切り替えを可能にするのか”など、生物学的に重要な多くの現象を理解する鍵になると考えられ、新規な病害抵抗性作