Structural basis for size-selective perception of chitin in plants
Plants detect microbes through pattern recognition receptors that perceive conserved microbial surface motifs known as microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs). Lysin motif (LysM) receptors recognize and mediate downstream responses to chitinous MAMPs. In this study, we elucidated the mechanism for the specific recognition of long-chain chitin oligomers and identified a hallmark bridge domain characteristic of the CHITIN PERCEPTION (CHIP) receptor class. Structural analysis of receptor-ligand complexes, biochemistry, and in planta functional studies of inhibitory nanobodies revealed the mechanism of size-selective, high-affinity chitin perception in Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula . Additionally, we identified the CHITIN ELICITOR RECEPTOR KINASE (CERK) class as low-affinity, yet essential, co-receptors and propose a mechanistic model for a ligand-induced core signaling heterocomplex. Our findings establish the structural and mechanistic basis of differential chitin perception and receptor complex assembly in chitin-elicited plant immune signaling.
Authors
- Maria Vinther
- Kasper R. Andersen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4415-8067)
- Mikkel B. Thygesen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0158-2802)
- Eva Madland (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7124-2638)
- Ebbe Engholm (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7471-3968)
- Kira Gysel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4245-9998)
- Husam M. A. B. Alsarraf (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8147-9647)
- Henriette Rübsam (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4667-5700)
- Knud J. Jensen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3525-5452)
- Jens Stougaard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9312-2685)
- Jeryl Cheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9905-943X)
- Emil Christian Poulsen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7856-3386)
- Simon B. Hansen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0843-3922)
- Sébastien Fort (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6133-9900)
- Caroline Baadegaard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2222-3145)
Institutions
- University of Copenhagen (DK)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Aarhus University (DK)
- Centre de Recherches sur les Macromolécules Végétales (FR)
- Université Grenoble Alpes (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Science
- Published
- 2026-10-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adz4600
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.50
Funders
- LABoratoires d’EXcellence ARCANE
- Danmarks Grundforskningsfond
- Carlsbergfondet
- Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond
- Novo Nordisk Fonden