"Adaptive Evolution of Plant Pattern Recognition Receptors"

The evolutionary trajectory of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) in plants, crucial for perceiving environmental changes and detecting pathogens, involves the expansion of receptor-like proteins (RLPs) and receptor-like kinases (RLKs) in response to pathogen pressure. The study identifies the origin and expansion of various cell-surface receptors involved in immunity, development, and reproductive processes, shedding light on their divergence and specialization in distinct biological functions. The findings reveal substantial expansions in specific receptor families across plant lineages, with RLKs demonstrating greater expansion compared to RLPs, particularly in the context of pathogen recognition. Additionally, the study identifies the presence of cell-surface co-receptors and signaling components involved in plant immunity across different plant lineages.