Molecular mechanisms of signalling by plant immune receptors (2019-2022)

Effector-triggered immunity is a key mechanism by which plants detect invading pathogens and trigger immune responses. In this process, a pathogen effector (avirulence) protein is recognized by plant resistance proteins, typically from the "plant NLR" family. Ongoing work in the applicants' laboratories suggests that signalling by cooperative assembly formation and NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) cleavage play central roles in the process. Building on these data, the project aims to characterize the molecular basis of the TIR (Toll/interleukin-1 receptor) domain-mediated NAD+ cleavage and the structural architecture of plant NLR complexes. This knowledge will support the long-term objective of protecting crops from pathogens.