UC Berkeley

Innate immune responses to microbial pathogens are regulated by intracellular receptors known as nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat receptors (NLRs) in both the plant and animal kingdoms. Across plant innate immune systems, "helper" NLRs (hNLRs) work in coordination with "sensor" NLRs (sNLRs) to modulate disease resistance signaling pathways. Activation mechanisms of hNLRs based on structures are unknown. Our research reveals that the hNLR, known as NLR required for cell death 4 (NRC4), assembles into a hexameric resistosome upon activation by the sNLR Bs2 and the pathogenic effector AvrBs2. This conformational change triggers immune responses by facilitating the influx of calcium ions (Ca²⁺) into the cytosol. The activation mimic alleles of NRC2, NRC3, or NRC4 alone did not induce Ca²⁺ influx and cell death in animal cells, suggesting that unknown plant-specific factors regulate NRCs' activation in plants. These findings significantly advance our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms governing plant immune responses.