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Microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP) signatures, synergy, size and charge: influences on perception or

Shazia N Aslam1, Gitte Erbs, Kate L Morrissey

  • 1Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, UK.

Molecular Plant Pathology
|April 30, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) can interact synergistically or interfere with each other and plant cell walls. These complex interactions influence the speed and strength of plant immune responses.

Area of Science:

  • Plant immunity
  • Molecular plant-pathogen interactions

Background:

  • Plant defenses are typically studied with single microbial elicitors.
  • Microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) are released in complex mixtures with endogenous elicitors like oligogalacturonan (OGA).

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate early plant defense responses (calcium influx, oxidative burst) to combinations of bacterial MAMPs and OGA in Arabidopsis.
  • Determine how MAMP interactions affect plant defense signaling and gene expression.

Main Methods:

  • Applied various bacterial MAMPs (flg22, elf18, PGN, LOS) and OGA singly and in combination to Arabidopsis.
  • Measured calcium influx and oxidative burst.
  • Analyzed expression of defense genes (PR1, PDF1.2, PAL1).

Main Results:

  • Observed additive (flg22 + elf18) and synergistic (flg22 + LOS) MAMP interactions.
  • Found mutual interference between flg22 and OGA, independent of FLS2 receptor binding.
  • Peptide MAMPs were potent at low concentrations; PGN and LOS induced late, low responses, potentially due to cell wall penetration.
  • MAMPs exhibit different cell wall permeability.

Conclusions:

  • MAMPs interact with each other and the plant cell wall matrix.
  • These interactions significantly impact the dynamics and effectiveness of plant immune responses.
  • Previous studies may have underestimated the complexity of MAMP-mediated defense.

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