Cysteine-rich receptor-like kinases mediate Wall Teichoic Acid perception in Arabidopsis

Pierdzig, L.; Seinsche, C.; Kalla, S.; Armiento, S.; Schulz, L. M.; Rismondo, J.; Molinaro, A.; De Castro, C.; Petutschnig, E. K.; Lipka, V.

doi:10.1101/2025.09.18.677107

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.09.18.677107

Cysteine-rich receptor-like kinases mediate Wall Teichoic Acid perception in Arabidopsis

Pierdzig, L.·Seinsche, C.·Kalla, S.·Armiento, S.·Schulz, L. M.·Rismondo, J.·Molinaro, A.·De Castro, C.·Petutschnig, E. K.·Lipka, V.

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Abstract

Plants and animals detect microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) to initiate defense responses. Both lineages employ pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), yet plant mechanisms for sensing Gram-positive bacterial MAMPs remain poorly understood. Wall teichoic acids (WTAs), anionic glycopolymers unique to Gram-positive bacteria, are shown here to activate salicylic acid signaling, defense priming, and a non-canonical programmed cell death in Arabidopsis. We demonstrate that glycosylated WTAs from diverse Gram-positive species elicit these responses and provide genetic evidence that their recognition depends on two members of the plant-specific CYSTEINE-RICH RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE (CRK) gene family, which is absent in animals and whose function remains elusive. These findings reveal WTAs as a novel class of MAMPs in plants and highlight CRKs as key components in their perception.

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Pierdzig, L., Seinsche, C., Kalla, S., Armiento, S., Schulz, L. M., Rismondo, J., Molinaro, A., De Castro, C., Petutschnig, E. K., Lipka, V.. 2025-09-21. Cysteine-rich receptor-like kinases mediate Wall Teichoic Acid perception in Arabidopsis. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.18.677107

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