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Biology subjects

Nürnberger, T.

Publications and source records attributed to Nürnberger, T..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Arabidopsis cell surface LRR immune receptor signaling through the EDS1-PAD4-ADR1 node

Plants use both cell surface and intracellular immune receptors with leucine rich-repeat (LRRs) to detect pathogens. LRR receptor kinases (LRR-RKs) and LRR receptor-like proteins (LRR-RPs) recognize extracellular microbe-derived molecules to confer pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), while nucleotide-binding LRR (NLR) proteins detect microbial effectors inside the cell to confer effector-triggered immunity (ETI). Despite PTI and ETI signaling being initiated in different compartments, both rely on the transcriptional activation of similar sets of genes, suggesting convergence in signaling upstream of nuclear events. Here we report that two sets of molecules, helper NLRs from the ADR1 (ACTIVATED DISEASE RESISTANCE 1) family as well as lipase-like proteins EDS1 (ENHANCED DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY 1) and PAD4 (PHYTOALEXIN DEFICIENT 4), are required not only for ETI, but also for PTI. A further similarity is seen in the evolutionary patterns of some PTI and ETI receptor genes, with both often being highly polymorphic, and with nevertheless distinct roles of LRR-RK and LRR-RP receptors in immunity. We find that the LRR-RK SOBIR1 directly links LRR-RPs with the ADR1 helper NLR as well as EDS1 and PAD4, suggesting the formation of constitutive supramolecular signalosome complexes at the inner side of the plasma membrane. We propose that the EDS1-PAD4-ADR1 node is an essential component and convergence point for immune signaling cascades activated by both surface-resident LRR-RP receptors and intracellular NLR receptors.

plant biology↗

Symbiosis-related genes sustain the development of a downy mildew pathogen on Arabidopsis thaliana

AO_SCPLOWBSTRACTC_SCPLOWThe interfaces through which nutrients are transferred from plant cells to arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi and biotrophic hyphal pathogens are structurally similar. We report that in Arabidopsis thaliana, mutations in homologs of common symbiosis genes (CSGs) encoding homologs of the symbiosis receptor kinase SYMRK, the nucleoporins NUP133 and SEC13 or the cation channel POLLUX reduce the reproductive success of Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis (Hpa). Analysis of the multiplication of extracellular bacterial pathogens, Hpa-induced cell death or callose accumulation, as well as Hpa-or flg22-induced defence marker gene expression, did not reveal any traces of constitutive or exacerbated defence responses. We discovered an age-dependent, possibly senescence-related transition of haustorial shape that occurred significantly earlier and at higher frequency in the CSG mutants. These findings point to a function of the homologs of common symbiosis genes in haustorial maintenance thus revealing an overlapping gene set for the intracellular accommodation of hyphal symbionts and pathogens.

cell biology↗

The fungal ligand chitin directly binds and signals inflammation dependent on oligomer size and TLR2

Chitin is a highly abundant polysaccharide and linked to fungal infection and asthma. Unfortunately, its polymeric structure has hampered the identification of immune receptors directly binding chitin and signaling immune activation and inflammation, because purity, molecular structure and molarity are not well definable for a polymer typically extracted from biomass. Therefore, by using defined chitin (N-acetyl-glucosamine) oligomers, we identified six subunit long chitin chains as the smallest immunologically active motif and the innate immune receptor Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 as the primary fungal chitin receptor on human and murine immune cells. Chitin oligomers directly bound TLR2 with nanomolar affinity and showed both overlapping and distinct signaling outcomes compared to known mycobacterial TLR2 ligands. Conversely, chitin oligomers shorter than 6 subunits were inactive or showed antagonistic effects on chitin/TLR2-mediated signaling, hinting to a size-dependent sensing/activation system unexpectedly conserved in plants and humans. Since blocking the chitin-TLR2 interaction effectively prevented chitin-mediated inflammation in vitro and in vivo, our study highlights the chitin TLR2 interaction as a potential target for developing novel therapies in chitin-related pathologies and fungal disease.

immunology↗