Recognition of pathogen-derived sphingolipids in Arabidopsis

Science. 2022 May 20;376(6595):857-860. doi: 10.1126/science.abn0650. Epub 2022 May 19.

Abstract

In plants, many invading microbial pathogens are recognized by cell-surface pattern recognition receptors, which induce defense responses. Here, we show that the ceramide Phytophthora infestans-ceramide D (Pi-Cer D) from the plant pathogenic oomycete P. infestans triggers defense responses in Arabidopsis. Pi-Cer D is cleaved by an Arabidopsis apoplastic ceramidase, NEUTRAL CERAMIDASE 2 (NCER2), and the resulting 9-methyl-branched sphingoid base is recognized by a plasma membrane lectin receptor-like kinase, RESISTANT TO DFPM-INHIBITION OF ABSCISIC ACID SIGNALING 2 (RDA2). 9-Methyl-branched sphingoid base is specific to microbes and induces plant immune responses by physically interacting with RDA2. Loss of RDA2 or NCER2 function compromised Arabidopsis resistance against an oomycete pathogen. Thus, we elucidated the recognition mechanisms of pathogen-derived lipid molecules in plants.

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis Proteins* / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins* / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis* / genetics
  • Arabidopsis* / immunology
  • Arabidopsis* / microbiology
  • Ceramides* / metabolism
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions*
  • Neutral Ceramidase* / genetics
  • Neutral Ceramidase* / metabolism
  • Phytophthora infestans* / pathogenicity
  • Plant Diseases* / immunology
  • Plant Diseases* / microbiology
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Receptors, Mitogen / genetics
  • Receptors, Mitogen / metabolism

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Ceramides
  • Receptors, Mitogen
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Neutral Ceramidase