Interfamily co-transfer of sensor and helper NLRs extends immune receptor functionality between angiosperms
Xiaofei Du1, Maheen Alam2, Kamil Witek3
1State Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Department of Plant Pathology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
Cell
|June 18, 2025
Summary
Researchers enabled plant immune receptor (NLR) gene function across different plant families. This breakthrough allows Solanaceae NLRs to work in rice and soybean, enhancing crop disease resistance.
Area of Science:
- Plant immunology
- Molecular genetics
- Crop science
Background:
- Plant immune receptors, nucleotide-binding, leucine-rich repeat (NLR) genes, recognize pathogens but can have restricted taxonomic functionality (RTF) in distantly related plants.
- Enabling NLR gene function across plant families is crucial for developing broad-spectrum disease resistance in crops.
Purpose of the Study:
- To overcome the restricted taxonomic functionality of plant NLR genes.
- To enable the function of Solanaceae sensor NLR genes in heterologous plant species like rice, soybean, and Arabidopsis.
Main Methods:
- Co-delivery of sensor NLR genes with their cognate NLR required for cell death (NRC)-type helper NLRs.
- Expression analysis in soybean protoplasts and Arabidopsis plants.
- Functional validation in rice by challenging with Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola.
Main Results:
- Solanum americanum Rpi-amr1, Rpi-amr3, and pepper Bs2 sensor NLRs conferred effector responsiveness when co-expressed with NRC helper NLRs in soybean and Arabidopsis.
- Rice lines expressing pepper Bs2 and NRCs recognized the conserved effector AvrBs2.
- These rice lines exhibited resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola, a pathogen for which rice lacks natural resistance.
Conclusions:
- Interfamily co-transfer of sensor and helper NLRs successfully broadens the utility of sensor NLRs.
- This approach provides new tools for enhancing disease resistance in rice, soybean, Brassica, and other crops.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Cell Signaling in Plants
5.8K
Plant cells communicate to coordinate their cycle of growth, flowering and fruiting, and activities in roots, shoots, and leaves in response to the changing environmental conditions. Plant signaling is distinct from animal signaling. Plants primarily utilize enzyme-linked receptors, whereas the largest class of cell-surface receptors in animals are G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Unlike animals, receptor tyrosine kinases are rare in plants. Instead, plants have a diverse class of...
5.8K
01:16Transduction
144
Among the three main modes of HGT—transformation, conjugation, and transduction—transduction is unique in that it is mediated by bacteriophages, or bacterial viruses.Transduction occurs in two ways. Generalized transduction occurs during the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage infection. In this process, bacteriophages infect bacterial cells, replicate within them, and ultimately cause cell lysis, releasing newly assembled virions. Occasionally, random fragments of the bacterial genome...
144
02:50Transgenic Plants
7.5K
Recombinant DNA technology called transgenesis is often used to add a foreign gene or remove a detrimental gene from an organism. Such genetically modified organisms are called transgenic organisms.
The first-ever transgenic plant was a tobacco plant developed in 1983 that showed resistance against the tobacco mosaic virus. Since then, many transgenic plants have been developed and commercialized for improving the agricultural, ornamental, and horticultural value of a crop plant. Transgenic...
The first-ever transgenic plant was a tobacco plant developed in 1983 that showed resistance against the tobacco mosaic virus. Since then, many transgenic plants have been developed and commercialized for improving the agricultural, ornamental, and horticultural value of a crop plant. Transgenic...
7.5K
02:00Photoreceptors and Plant Responses to Light
25.6K
Light plays a significant role in regulating the growth and development of plants. In addition to providing energy for photosynthesis, light provides other important cues to regulate a range of developmental and physiological responses in plants.
25.6K
02:13Overview of Transposition and Recombination
16.1K
Transposons make up a significant part of genomes of various organisms. Therefore, it is believed that transposition played a major evolutionary role in speciation by changing genome sizes and modifying gene expression patterns. For example, in bacteria, transposition can lead to conferring antibiotic resistance. Movement of transposable elements within the genetic pool of pathogenic bacteria can aid in transfer of antibiotic-resistant genetic elements. In eukaryotes, transposons can carry out...
16.1K
02:18Types of Genetic Transfer Between Organisms
5.5K
5.5K