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First structural insights into how plant immune receptors interact

Date:
April 17, 2014
Source:
Norwich BioScience Institutes
Summary:
The first structural definition of how plant immune receptors interact has broad implications for understanding their function. "Before, we knew that proteins called RRS1 and RPS4 are required to recognize specific molecules from pathogenic bacteria, and then use this recognition as a cue to activate defense. However, we had no idea how they did it" said a co-corresponding author.
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Researchers at TSL, Norwich, collaborating with structural biologist Bostjan Kobe in Brisbane, have made a major advance in understanding plant disease resistance.

"Before, we knew that proteins called RRS1 and RPS4 are required to recognize specific molecules from pathogenic bacteria, and then use this recognition as a cue to activate defense. However, we had no idea how they did it" said co-corresponding author Jonathan Jones of TSL.

RPS4 and RRS1 are both required for resistance to Pseudomonas syringae, the soil-borne Ralstonia solanacearum and the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum higginsianum. How this unique dual-protein recognition system operates has remained unknown and is the focus of investigations in Prof Jones' lab.

"Now we know that these proteins intimately associate and we have revealed part of that association at atomic detail. We also found that mutations which perturb this association, disrupt its function and leave plants more vulnerable to attack."


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Materials provided by Norwich BioScience Institutes. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. S. J. Williams, K. H. Sohn, L. Wan, M. Bernoux, P. F. Sarris, C. Segonzac, T. Ve, Y. Ma, S. B. Saucet, D. J. Ericsson, L. W. Casey, T. Lonhienne, D. J. Winzor, X. Zhang, A. Coerdt, J. E. Parker, P. N. Dodds, B. Kobe, J. D. G. Jones. Structural Basis for Assembly and Function of a Heterodimeric Plant Immune Receptor. Science, 2014; 344 (6181): 299 DOI: 10.1126/science.1247357

Cite This Page:

Norwich BioScience Institutes. "First structural insights into how plant immune receptors interact." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 17 April 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140417141911.htm>.
Norwich BioScience Institutes. (2014, April 17). First structural insights into how plant immune receptors interact. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 18, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140417141911.htm
Norwich BioScience Institutes. "First structural insights into how plant immune receptors interact." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140417141911.htm (accessed March 18, 2024).

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