Chitin Signaling Mechanisms in Plant Immunity

Chitin, a β-1,4-linked N-acetyl-D-glucosamine polymer abundant in fungal cell walls, constitutes a key microbe-associated molecular pattern recognised by plants. Binding of chitin oligomers to lysin motif (LysM)-containing receptor kinases and proteins at the plasma membrane induces receptor complex formation, autophosphorylation and activation of downstream signalling events. Early responses include calcium influx, mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades and reactive oxygen species bursts, which together trigger transcriptional reprogramming of defence genes, cell wall reinforcement and synthesis of antimicrobial compounds. The system is further modulated by plant chitinases that trim ligand size and by cross-talk with salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and ethylene pathways. Deciphering these signalling networks offers routes to engineer disease-resistant crops, reduce fungicide dependence and bolster global food security.

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Chitin Signaling Mechanisms in Plant Immunity publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in chitin signaling mechanisms in plant immunity across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Chitin: A polymer of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine forming fungal cell walls and acting as a microbe-associated molecular pattern in plants.

Microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP): Conserved microbial molecules recognised by plant pattern recognition receptors to trigger immunity.

Lysin motif (LysM) domain: A carbohydrate-binding module present in receptor proteins that binds chitin and related oligosaccharides.

Receptor-like kinase (RLK): A membrane-anchored protein with an extracellular ligand-binding domain and an intracellular kinase domain that initiates phosphorylation cascades.

CERK1: Chitin elicitor receptor kinase 1, an Arabidopsis RLK critical for chitin perception and signal transduction.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules produced rapidly upon pathogen detection, functioning in defence and signalling.

References

1. Tomato LysM receptor kinase 4 mediates chitin-elicited fungal resistance in both leaves and fruit. Horticulture Research (2023).
2. Novel structural insights at the extracellular plant-pathogen interface. Current Opinion in Plant Biology (2024).
3. Chitin and chitin-related compounds in plant–fungal interactions. Mycology: An International Journal on Fungal Biology (2018).
4. The kinase LYK5 is a major chitin receptor in Arabidopsis and forms a chitin-induced complex with related kinase CERK1. eLife (2014).
5. The Lysin Motif Receptor-like Kinase (LysM-RLK) CERK1 Is a Major Chitin-binding Protein in Arabidopsis thaliana and Subject to Chitin-induced Phosphorylation* ♦. Journal of Biological Chemistry (2010).