Comparative & functional genomics of plant innate immunity using the moss Physcomitrella patens as a model
S. STANIMIROVIC (1), M. Petersen (1), J. Mundy (1) (1) University of Copenhagen, Department of Biology, Denmark

Plants and animals have innate immune systems with surface-localized, pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). MAP kinase cascades transmit and amplify signals from activated PRRs to the nucleus, that consist of a MAP kinase kinase kinase (MEKK), a MAP kinase kinase (MPKK) and a MAP kinase (MPK). In the higher plant Arabidopsis thaliana, 4 MPKs (AtMPK3/4/6/11) are involved in signaling upon PRR activation. MPKs are also implicated in abiotic stress responses and in developmental processes. A. thaliana has 20 MPKs while the moss Physcomitrella patens has 8 which may represent a ‘basal’ set of plant cascades. P. patens is susceptible to pathogenic fungi, oomycetes and bacteria, which activate moss defenses including the expression of defense related genes. However, apart from current work from our laboratory, little is known about how P. patens perceives pathogens and activates responses, and moss PRRs or MPKs have not been analyzed. We are using this moss as a comparative genomic model to understand the evolution and regulation of innate immunity in plants. This aim includes the identification of components of the P. patens MAP kinase cascade(s) mediating immunity from PAMP receptors to transcriptional target genes required for defense. We have identified a number of these moss components as well as novel immune responses, which will be presented.

Abstract Number: P18-692
Session Type: Poster