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The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O‐antigen structure of the plant pathogen Rhizobium radiobacter strain TT9 and its possible role in a plant‐microbe interaction was investigated. The analyses disclosed the presence of two O‐antigens, named Poly1 and Poly2. The repetitive unit of Poly2 constitutes a 4‐α‐l‐rhamnose linked to a 3‐α‐d‐fucose residue. Surprisingly, Poly1 turned out to be a novel type of biopolymer in which the repeating unit is formed by a monosaccharide and an amino‐acid derivative, so that the polymer has alternating glycosidic and amidic bonds joining the two units: 4‐amino‐4‐deoxy‐3‐O‐methyl‐d‐fucose and (2′R,3′R,4′S)‐N‐methyl‐3′,4′‐dihydroxy‐3′‐methyl‐5′‐oxoproline). Differently from the O‐antigens of LPSs from other pathogenic Gram‐negative bacteria, these two O‐antigens do not activate the oxidative burst, an early innate immune response in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, explaining at least in part the ability of this R. radiobacter strain to avoid host defenses during a plant infection process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique α-(1→7)-bradyrhizoside linkages are constructed for the first time via judicious choice of the glycosylation partners and conditions, thus tetra- and penta-bradyrhizosides relevant to the peculiar O-antigen of Bradyrhizobium are synthesized, which are shown to adopt the defined right-handed helical conformations and to be unable to induce innate immune responses in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MAP kinase (MPK) cascades in Arabidopsis thaliana and other vascular plants are activated by developmental cues, abiotic stress, and pathogen infection. Much less is known of MPK functions in nonvascular land plants such as the moss Physcomitrella patens. Here, we provide evidence for a signaling pathway in P. patens required for immunity triggered by pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). This pathway induces rapid growth inhibition, a novel fluorescence burst, cell wall depositions, and accumulation of defense-related transcripts. Two P. patens MPKs (MPK4a and MPK4b) are phosphorylated and activated in response to PAMPs. This activation in response to the fungal PAMP chitin requires a chitin receptor and one or more MAP kinase kinase kinases and MAP kinase kinases. Knockout lines of MPK4a appear wild type but have increased susceptibility to the pathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria brassisicola. Both PAMPs and osmotic stress activate some of the same MPKs in Arabidopsis. In contrast, abscisic acid treatment or osmotic stress of P. patens does not activate MPK4a or any other MPK, but activates at least one SnRK2 kinase. Signaling via MPK4a may therefore be specific to immunity, and the moss relies on other pathways to respond to osmotic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants are sessile organisms that are under constant attack from microbes. They rely on both preformed defenses, and their innate immune system to ward of the microbial pathogens. Preformed defences include for example the cell wall and cuticle, which act as physical barriers to microbial colonization. The plant immune system is composed of surveillance systems that perceive several general microbe elicitors, which allow plants to switch from growth and development into a defense mode, rejecting most potentially harmful microbes. The elicitors are essential structures for pathogen survival and are conserved among pathogens. The conserved microbe-specific molecules, referred to as microbe- or pathogen-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs or PAMPs), are recognized by the plant innate immune systems pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). General elicitors like flagellin (Flg), elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu), peptidoglycan (PGN), lipopolysaccharides (LPS), Ax21 (Activator of XA21-mediated immunity in rice), fungal chitin, and p-glucans from oomycetes are recognized by plant surface localized PRRs. Several of the MAMPs and their corresponding PRRs have, in recent years, been identified. This review focuses on the current knowledge regarding important MAMPs from bacteria, fungi, and oomycetes, their structure, the plant PRRs that recognizes them, and how they induce MAMP-triggered immunity (MTI) in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY In an environment that is rich in potentially pathogenic microorganisms, the survival of higher eukaryotic organisms depends on efficient pathogen sensing and rapidly mounted defence responses. Such protective mechanisms are found in all multicellular organisms, and are collectively referred to as 'innate immunity'. Innate immunity is the first line of defence against invading microorganisms in vertebrates and the only line of defence in invertebrates and plants. Bacterial glycoconjugates, such as lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) from the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and peptidoglycan (PGN) from the cell walls of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, have been found to act as elicitors of plant innate immunity. These conserved, indispensable, microbe-specific molecules are also referred to as 'microbe-associated molecular patterns' (MAMPs). MAMPs are recognized by the plant innate immune system through the action of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). A greater insight into the mechanisms of MAMP recognition and the description of PRRs for different microbial glycoconjugates will have considerable impact on the improvement of plant health and disease resistance. Here, the current knowledge about LPS and PGN as MAMPs is reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triggering of defences by microbes has mainly been investigated using single elicitors or microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs), but MAMPs are released in planta as complex mixtures together with endogenous oligogalacturonan (OGA) elicitor. We investigated the early responses in Arabidopsis of calcium influx and oxidative burst induced by non-saturating concentrations of bacterial MAMPs, used singly and in combination: flagellin peptide (flg22), elongation factor peptide (elf18), peptidoglycan (PGN) and component muropeptides, lipo-oligosaccharide (LOS) and core oligosaccharides. This revealed that some MAMPs have additive (e.g. flg22 with elf18) and even synergistic (flg22 and LOS) effects, whereas others mutually interfere (flg22 with OGA). OGA suppression of flg22-induced defences was not a result of the interference with the binding of flg22 to its receptor flagellin-sensitive 2 (FLS2). MAMPs induce different calcium influx signatures, but these are concentration dependent and unlikely to explain the differential induction of defence genes [pathogenesis-related gene 1 ( PR1), plant defensin gene 1.2 ( PDF1.2) and phenylalanine ammonia lyase gene 1 ( PAL1)] by flg22, elf18 and OGA. The peptide MAMPs are potent elicitors at subnanomolar levels, whereas PGN and LOS at high concentrations induce low and late host responses. This difference might be a result of the restricted access by plant cell walls of MAMPs to their putative cellular receptors. flg22 is restricted by ionic effects, yet rapidly permeates a cell wall matrix, whereas LOS, which forms supramolecular aggregates, is severely constrained, presumably by molecular sieving. Thus, MAMPs can interact with each other, whether directly or indirectly, and with the host wall matrix. These phenomena, which have not been considered in detail previously, are likely to influence the speed, magnitude, versatility and composition of plant defences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Bacterial pathogens and symbionts must suppress or negate host innate immunity. However, pathogens release conserved oligomeric and polymeric molecules or MAMPs (Microbial Associated Molecular Patterns), which elicit host defenses . Extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs) are key virulence factors in plant and animal pathogenesis, but their precise function in establishing basic compatibility remains unclear . Here, we show that EPSs suppress MAMP-induced signaling in plants through their polyanionic nature and consequent ability to chelate divalent calcium ions . In plants, Ca2+ ion influx to the cytosol from the apoplast (where bacteria multiply ) is a prerequisite for activation of myriad defenses by MAMPs . We show that EPSs from diverse plant and animal pathogens and symbionts bind calcium. EPS-defective mutants or pure MAMPs, such as the flagellin peptide flg22, elicit calcium influx, expression of host defense genes, and downstream resistance. Furthermore, EPSs, produced by wild-type strains or purified, suppress induced responses but do not block flg22-receptor binding in Arabidopsis cells. EPS production was confirmed in planta, and the amounts in bacterial biofilms greatly exceed those required for binding of apoplastic calcium. These data reveal a novel, fundamental role for bacterial EPS in disease establishment, encouraging novel control strategies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The lesion-mimic Arabidopsis mutant, syp121 syp122, constitutively expresses the salicylic acid (SA) signaling pathway and has low penetration resistance to powdery mildew fungi. Genetic analyses of the lesion-mimic phenotype have expanded our understanding of programmed cell death (PCD) in plants. Inactivation of SA signaling genes in syp121 syp122 only partially rescues the lesion-mimic phenotype, indicating that additional defenses contribute to the PCD. Whole genome transcriptome analysis confirmed that SA-induced transcripts, as well as numerous other known pathogen-response transcripts, are up-regulated after inactivation of the syntaxin genes. A suppressor mutant analysis of syp121 syp122 revealed that FMO1, ALD1, and PAD4 are important for lesion development. Mutant alleles of EDS1, NDR1, RAR1, and SGT1b also partially rescued the lesion-mimic phenotype, suggesting that mutating syntaxin genes stimulates TIR-NB-LRR and CC-NB-LRR-type resistances. The syntaxin double knockout potentiated a powdery mildew-induced HR-like response. This required functional PAD4 but not functional SA signaling. However, SA signaling potentiated the PAD4-dependent HR-like response. Analyses of quadruple mutants suggest that EDS5 and SID2 confer separate SA-independent signaling functions, and that FMO1 and ALD1 mediate SA-independent signals that are NPR1-dependent. These studies highlight the contribution of multiple pathways to defense and point to the complexity of their interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) have multiple roles in plant-microbe interactions. LPS contributes to the low permeability of the outer membrane, which acts as a barrier to protect bacteria from plant-derived antimicrobial substances. Conversely, perception of LPS by plant cells can lead to the triggering of defence responses or to the priming of the plant to respond more rapidly and/or to a greater degree to subsequent pathogen challenge. LPS from symbiotic bacteria can have quite different effects on plants to those of pathogens. Some details are emerging of the structures within LPS that are responsible for induction of these different plant responses. The lipid A moiety is not solely responsible for all of the effects of LPS in plants; core oligosaccharide and O-antigen components can elicit specific responses. Here, we review the effects of LPS in induction of defence-related responses in plants, the structures within LPS responsible for eliciting these effects and discuss the possible nature of the (as yet unidentified) LPS receptors in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) have multiple roles in plant—microbe interactions. LPS contributes to the low permeability of the outer membrane, which acts as a barrier to protect bacteria from plant-derived antimicrobial substances. Conversely, perception of LPS by plant cells can lead to the triggering of defence responses or to the priming of the plant to respond more rapidly and/or to a greater degree to subsequent pathogen challenge. LPS from symbiotic bacteria can have quite different effects on plants to those of pathogens. Some details are emerging of the structures within LPS that are responsible for induction of these different plant responses. The lipid A moiety is not solely responsible for all of the effects of LPS in plants; core oligosaccharide and O-antigen components can elicit specific responses. Here, we review the effects of LPS in induction of defence-related responses in plants, the structures within LPS responsible for eliciting these effects and discuss the possible nature of the (as yet unidentified) LPS receptors in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Penetration resistance is often the first line of defence against fungal pathogens. Subsequently induced defences are mediated by the programmed cell death (PCD) reaction pathway and the salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene (ET) signalling pathways. We previously demonstrated that full penetration resistance in Arabidopsis against the non-host barley powdery mildew fungus ( Blumeria graminis f.sp. hordei) requires the syntaxin SYP121 (PEN1). Here we report that SYP121, together with SYP122, functions as a negative regulator of subsequently induced defence pathways. The SA level in the syntaxin double mutant syp121–1 syp122–1 is dramatically elevated, resulting in necrosis and dwarfism. This phenotype is partially rescued by introducing the SA-signalling mutations eds1–2, eds5–3, sid2–1 and npr1–1 as well as the NahG transgene. These partially rescued triple mutants have an unknown defence to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, and have increased HR-like responses to non-host and host powdery mildew fungi. The HR-like responses cause efficient resistance to the latter. These defence pathways are SA-independent. Furthermore, the JA/ET signalling marker, PDF1.2, is highly upregulated in the triple mutants. Thus SYP121 and SYP122 are negative regulators of PCD, SA, JA and ET pathways through a molecular function distinct from that of SYP121 in penetration resistance. Our data suggest that individual cells preferentially express either penetration resistance or the subsequently induced defences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the mechanisms of inducible disease resistance in conifers, changes in transcript accumulation in roots of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) seedlings exposed to the root rot pathogen Ceratobasidium bicorne Erikss. and Ryv. (anamorph: Rhizoctonia sp.) were monitored by differential display (DD). Because C. bicorne attacks root tips, a desiccation treatment was added to exclude genes induced by pathogen-related desiccation stress. The DD analysis was defined by the use of 11 sets of primers, covering about 5% of the transcriptome. A comparison of gene expression in control, desiccation- and pathogen-stressed roots revealed 36 pathogen-induced gene transcripts. Based on database searches, these transcripts were assigned to four groups originating from spruce mRNA (25 transcripts), rRNA (five transcripts), fungal mRNA (two transcripts) and currently unknown cDNAs (four transcripts). Real-time PCR was applied to verify and quantify pathogen-induced changes in transcript accumulation. Of the 18 transcripts tested, nine were verified to be Norway spruce gene transcripts up-regulated from 1.3- to 66-fold in the infected roots. Four germin-like protein isoforms, a peroxidase and a glutathione S-transferase, all implicated in oxidative processes, including the oxidative burst, were predicted from sequence similarity searches. Seven class IV chitinase isoforms implicated in fungal cell wall degradation and a nucleotide binding site-leucine rich repeat (NBS-LRR) disease resistance protein homologue related to pathogen recognition were identified. Several transcript species, such as the NBS-LRR homologue and the germin-like protein homologues, have not previously been identified as pathogen-inducible genes in gymnosperms. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Salicylic acid (SA) is implicated in the induction of programmed cell death (PCD) associated with pathogen defense responses because SA levels increase in response to PCD-inducing infections, and PCD development can be inhibited by expression of salicylate hydroxylase encoded by the bacterial nahG gene. The acd11 mutant of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana L. Heynh.) activates PCD and defense responses that are fully suppressed by nahG. To further study the role of SA in PCD induction, we compared phenotypes of acd11/nahG with those of acd11/eds5-1 and acd11/sid2-2 mutants deficient in a putative transporter and isochorismate synthase required for SA biosynthesis. We show that sid2-2 fully suppresses SA accumulation and cell death in acd11, although growth inhibition and premature leaf chlorosis still occur. In addition, application of exogenous SA to acd11/sid2-2 is insufficient to restore cell death. This indicates that isochorismate-derived compounds other than SA are required for induction of PCD in acd11 and that some acd11 phenotypes require NahG-degradable compounds not synthesized via isochorismate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are ubiquitous, indispensable components of the cell surface of Gram-negative bacteria that apparently have diverse roles in bacterial pathogenesis of plants. As an outer membrane component, LPS may contribute to the exclusion of plant-derived antimicrobial compounds promoting the ability of a bacterial plant pathogen to infect plants. In contrast, LPS can be recognized by plants to directly trigger some plant defence-related responses. LPS also sensitize plant tissue to respond more rapidly or to a greater extent to subsequently inoculated phytopathogenic bacteria. Sensitization is manifested by an accelerated synthesis of antimicrobial hydroxycinnamoyl-tyramine conjugates, in the expression patterns of genes coding for some pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins, and prevention of the hypersensitive reaction caused by avirulent bacteria. The description at the molecular level of the various effects of LPS on plants is a necessary step towards an understanding of the signal transduction mechanisms through which LPS triggers these responses. A definition of these signal transduction pathways should allow an assessment of the contribution that LPS signalling makes to plant disease resistance in both natural infections and biocontrol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the induction and modulation of plant defense responses by bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Prevention of the hypersensitive response by LPS; Effects of LPS on the accumulation of hydroxycinnamoyl-Tyramine conjugates; Suppression and nonspecific induction of defense-related responses in plant by phytopathogenic bacteria.

Investigates the role of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in plant responses to phytopathogenic bacteria. Ability of LPS pre-treatment to prevent the hypersensitive reaction caused by strains of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria carrying the avirulence gene avrBs1 and by X. Campestris pv. campestris; alterations in the expression patterns of genes for some pathogenesis-related proteins.

Frontispiz: Biopolymer Skeleton Produced by Rhizobium radiobacter: Stoichiometric Alternation of Glycosidic and Amidic Bonds in the Lipopolysaccharide O-Antigen Keywords: Biopolymere; Kohlenhydrate; Saccharide; Strukturbiologie; Strukturaufklärung EN Biopolymere Kohlenhydrate Saccharide Strukturbiologie Strukturaufklärung 1 1 1 04/09/20 20200416 NES 200416 B Kohlenhydrate b A. Molinaro, C. De Castro et al. zeigen in ihrem Forschungsartikel auf S. 6430, wie Monosaccharide und Aminosäuren um die Zusammensetzung des O-Antigens des von I Rhizobium radiobacter i TT9 produzierten Lipopolysaccharids konkurrieren. Biopolymere, Kohlenhydrate, Saccharide, Strukturbiologie, Strukturaufklärung. [Extracted from the article]

Plants and animals detect bacterial presence through Microbe-Associated Molecular Patterns (MAMPs) which induce an innate immune response. The field of fungal-bacterial interaction at the molecular level is still in its infancy and little is known about MAMPs and their detection by fungi. Exposing Fusarium graminearum to bacterial MAMPs led to increased fungal membrane hyperpolarization, a putative defense response, and a range of transcriptional responses. The fungus reacted with a different transcript profile to each of the three tested MAMPs, although a core set of genes related to energy generation, transport, amino acid production, secondary metabolism, and especially iron uptake were detected for all three. Half of the genes related to iron uptake were predicted MirA type transporters that potentially take up bacterial siderophores. These quick responses can be viewed as a preparation for further interactions with beneficial or pathogenic bacteria, and constitute a fungal innate immune response with similarities to those of plants and animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Lipopolysaccharides, the ubiquitous part of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, and their derivatives are recognised by plants to trigger or potentiate particular defence responses such as induction of genes encoding pathogenesis-related proteins. The molecular mechanisms of LPS perception that underpin these effects in plants are, however, unknown. Here, lipid A from Halomonas magadiensis, which is an antagonist of lipid A action in human cells, was used to investigate lipid A action in plants. Our findings offer an insight into the different structural requirements for direct induction and potentiation of plant defences by lipid A. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses structure-dependent modulation of a pathogen response in plants by synthetic O-antigen polysaccharides. The authors in this article state that the combined NMR and molecular modeling data show that the long synthetic oligomers 4 and 6 adopt a secondary structure defined by the presence of one and two coils, respectively. The bioactivity of the synthetic oligorhamnans correlates with their chain length. Compound 2 (with no coil) has low biological impact, whereas 4 and 6 are quite effective both in PR-1 gene expression, a plant immune response, and in HR suppression in Arabidopsis thaliana caused by an avirulent strain of Pseudomonassyringae.