Protein complex reveals molecular mechanism of innate immune response

To defend against foreign pathogens, plants and animals employ proteins known as immune sensors which recognize extracellular molecules and initiate immune response. Despite playing a critical in innate immunity, the underlying mechanisms governing this recognition process have remained elusive. Previous work by the team has shown that in plants, HSP90, a molecular chaperone, binds to the proteins SGT1 and RAR1 to form a complex which mediates the activity of immune sensors, but the dynamic nature of the complex has prevented a detailed understanding of its structure and role.

The researchers applied a variety of analysis techniques to overcome this challenge, each targeting different aspects of the RAR1-SGT1-HSP90 complex. Biochemical analysis identified the CHORD2 domain of RAR1 and the CS domain of SGT1 as essential to formation of the complex, while crystal structure analysis revealed that the complex is made up of six proteins in a ring configuration, with two copies of each component. Functionally, the team identified RAR1-SGT1 interaction as playing a key role in disease resistance, also providing evidence that interaction of RAR1 and HSP90 increases decomposition of ATP and boosts the efficiency of immune sensor control.

Reported in the July 30 issue of Molecular Cell, these findings provide the first detailed framework for understanding the architecture of HSP90-SGT1-CHORD protein complexes, whose role in immune defense is shared in both plants and animals. Future applications in agriculture and health promise increased crop yields through disease resistance and new treatments for human diseases.