Isolation of Novel MAMP-like Activities and Identification of Cognate Pattern Recognition Receptors in Arabidopsis thaliana Using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)-Based Mapping

Activation of pattern-triggered plant immunity requires recognition of microbe-derived molecular patterns (MAMPs) by plant-encoded pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Many plant PRRs are found in selected plant genera only. Transfer of single PRRs or of cassettes expressing several PRRs (PRR stacking) across plant genus boundaries offers the potential to boost disease resistance by improving pathogen recognition features in economically important crop plants. The success of such an approach is most dependent on the availability of a large number of plant PRRs. Here, an efficient method for the identification of novel PRRs in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (hereafter, Arabidopsis for simplicity) is described. This method takes advantage of natural variation in microbial pattern sensitivity among hundreds of Arabidopsis accessions currently available. Identification of pattern-sensitive as well as pattern-insensitive accessions facilitates next-generation sequencing (NGS)-assisted mapping of PRRs. This approach is potentially applicable to the identification of PRRs that recognize patterns of any chemical nature