Second online CiLST seminar: Dr. Christine Faulkner from John Innes Centre in Norwich, UK, talked about “Plasmodesmal regulation during plant–pathogen interactions”

The second online seminar in preparation of our planned DFG Priority Program on “Chito-Materials in Life Sciences and Technologies - CiLST” was given today by Dr. Christine Faulkner from the famous John Innes Centre in Norwich, UK, on invitation by Prof. Silke Robatzek. After a short introduction into the research field of molecular phytopathology in general and the tobacco mosaic virus TMV in particular, Prof. Faulkner presented her recent work on a new chitin receptor in plant cells, LYM2. While the well-known chitin receptors CERK1 and CEBiP, possibly supported by co-receptors LYK4 and LYK5, appear to be involved in recognizing fungal and, possibly, insect chitin (and highly acetylated chitosans) as Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMP) triggering immune responses such as the hypersensitive reaction, LYM2, equally supported by LYK4 and LYK5, appears to be involved in closing plasmodesmata during pathogen attack. Plasmodesmata form the bridges or tunnels of the symplastic highway connecting plant cells across the cell walls. Information as well as whole pathogens can travel on this highway network, potentially leading to systemic infection or systemic resistance, depending on the outcome of the molecular dialogue between host and pathogen. Clearly, plasmodesmata and their regulation play crucial roles in this process, as demonstrated by the pioneering work of Dr. Faulkner.