Bacterial flagellin-activated immunity plays a crucial role in shaping plant-microbe interactions, leading to either parasitism, mutualism, or commensalism. In the legume-rhizobium symbiosis, while i....

Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry (Halle) offers a Postdoctoral position in Biology

Protein structure is conserved beyond sequence, making multiple structural alignment (MSTA) essential for analyzing distantly related proteins. Computational prediction methods have vastly extended ou...

Pathogen pressure threatens legume crop productivity worldwide. Nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) immune receptors serve as crucial plant resistance genes, recognizing pathogens and triggering immunity. However, the extent and patterns of NLR expression in different tissues and organs, notably across evolutionary time, remain largely uncharacterized. To investigate tissue-specificity of NLR expression in the Fabaceae (legumes), we conducted comparative analyses integrating phylogenomics and transcriptomics in root and shoot tissues across different legume species. The NLR repertoires of 28 legumes were grouped into five monophyletic clades: coiled-coil NLR (CC-NLR), Toll/interleukin-1 receptor NLR (TIR-NLR), G10-subclade CC NLR (CCG10-NLR), RESISTANCE TO POWDERY MILDEW 8-like CC NLR (CCR-NLR), and TIR-NB-ARC-like β-propeller WD40/tetratricopeptide repeats (TNPs). Most legume NLRs belonged to CC-NLR and TIR-NLR clades, followed by CCG10-NLR, CCR-NLR, and TNP clades. In seven of these species, comparative analysis of NLR expression in leaves versus roots revealed that over half (~57%) of expressed NLR genes showed predominant expression in one tissue: 34% in roots (451/1336), and 23% in leaves (311/1336). We identified 324 root-specific NLRs, 171 leaf-specific NLRs, and 841 non-specific NLRs, with an average tissue specificity per species of 32%. The closely related species grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) and pea (Pisum sativum) were an exception, showing higher levels of leaf-specific rather than root-specific NLR expression. We also identified conserved tissue expression patterns across legume species, resulting in a comprehensive resource describing tissue expression bias, enrichment, and specificity for 113 phylogenetic NLR subclasses. These legume NLR repertoires will support comparative studies between species and inform precision-breeding programs considering tissue expression patterns.

In Arabidopsis, the uORF-encoded long-distance mobile peptide USIC in pathogen-infected local leaves activates systemic stomatal immunity, leading to stomatal closure in uninfected distal leaves.

Plant resistance (R) and pathogen avirulence (Avr) gene interactions are central to pathogen recognition and disease resistance in crops. Functional characterisation of recognised Avr effectors of Puc...

AI-powered pipeline converts antibodies into functional intrabodies, enabling live-cell imaging of peptides and histone marks.

Plants employ cell-surface and intracellular immune receptors to perceive pathogens and activate defense responses. Recent advances in mechanistic understanding of how cell-surface and intracellular immune receptors convert recognition of molecular patterns or effectors into defense activation, combined with the knowledge of receptor repertoire variation both within and between species, allow transfer of immune receptors between species to increase the spectrum of recognition specificities. Here, we summarize recent progress in the functional transfer of immune receptors within and between plant families. We also discuss challenges that limit the transferability of intracellular immune receptors, including the requirement of additional host factors or downstream components and their incompatibility between donor and recipient species. Finally, we provide an overview of future perspectives for bioengineering disease-resistant crops through immune receptor transfer.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Carella Group at the John Innes Centre, working on cutting-edge science in the field of Evo-MPMI (Evolutionary Molecular…