How does a plant immune receptor complex confer disease resistance?
Lead Research Organisation:
University of East Anglia
Department Name: Sainsbury Laboratory
Abstract
Plant disease resistance genes enable plants to detect pathogen molecules, and then activate defence. How this works is not understood.
Arabidopsis RPS4 and RRS1 resistance proteins form a protein complex that activates defence upon detection of bacterial effector proteins AvrRps4 or PopP2. RRS1 acts as a sensor R-protein; when AvrRps4 or PopP2 interact with its WRKY domain, RPS4-dependent defence is activated. The main goal of the project is to understand the properties and intra-/inter-molecular interactions of the domains within the RPS4/RRS1 proteins, in order to better understand how AvrRps4 and PopP2 recognition converts an inactive complex to a defence-activating complex.
Arabidopsis RPS4 and RRS1 resistance proteins form a protein complex that activates defence upon detection of bacterial effector proteins AvrRps4 or PopP2. RRS1 acts as a sensor R-protein; when AvrRps4 or PopP2 interact with its WRKY domain, RPS4-dependent defence is activated. The main goal of the project is to understand the properties and intra-/inter-molecular interactions of the domains within the RPS4/RRS1 proteins, in order to better understand how AvrRps4 and PopP2 recognition converts an inactive complex to a defence-activating complex.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Jonathan Jones (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Hannah Brown (Student) |
Publications
Jones J
(2020)
Estradiol-inducible AvrRps4 expression reveals distinct properties of TIR-NLR-mediated effector-triggered immunity
in Journal of Experimental Botany
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB/M011216/1 | 30/09/2015 | 31/03/2024 | |||
| 1654289 | Studentship | BB/M011216/1 | 30/09/2015 | 29/09/2019 | Hannah Brown |
| Description | The aim of this project was to investigate the mechanism of action of a pair of plant immune receptors (NLRs) using quantitative biochemical and structural biology. The work in this award evaluated a large range of protein expression systems for their suitability for NLR protein production. This study investigated the use of classical heterologous expression systems of E. coli and insect cells as well as plant-based systems such as cell-free wheat germ, transgenic over-expression lines of Arabidopsis thaliana and agroinfiltration of Nicotiana benthamiana. It was found that soluble full length RRS1 protein could be purified from plant-based systems, though protein yield issues have hampered current efforts to gain structural information on this protein. The insights presented in this multi-system screening process should provide a valuable foundation for future studies of this kind. In the second part of this work, we looked to examine the structural basis of RRS1's recognition of the P. syringae effector AvrRps4 via RRS1's integrated WRKY domain. Previous work has shown that binding of the effector AvrRps4 to RRS1 is required but not sufficient to activate a defence response. This work therefore looked to gain a structural insight into this NLR-effector interface to help guide and support our biological understanding of the inter- and intra-molecular interactions involved in the activation of this receptor complex. Through the use of quantitative biochemical techniques, we gained further insights into the molecular basis of this interaction and work continues to build upon this study's findings to gain a structure of this interface. |
| Exploitation Route | Work is being taken forward by a post-doc researcher in the lab Dr Nitika Mukhi |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink |
| Description | Keynote speaker at ISMPMI meeting Glasgow 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I was plenary speaker at ISMPMI meeting Glasgow 2019 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Norwich Research Park Undergraduate TSL summer school workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Lead a laboratory practical on skills and tools used in the field of plant pathology and applications of this research for 2nd year Undergraduate students completing their summer internships at the Institute. Practical was themed around my own research at looking at the activation mechanism of plant immune receptors |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.jic.ac.uk/training-careers/work-experience/17-and-over/undergraduate-summer-school/ |
| Description | Norwich Science Festival TSL stall |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Assisted in the running and organisation several plant pathology themed practicals targeted towards the general public as part of the Sainsbury Laboratory stall at the public engagement festival advertising the innovative science being conducted at the Research park and the current challenges facing global food security |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://norwichsciencefestival.co.uk/ |
| Description | Volunteer on TSL stall at Norwich Science Festival 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Assisted on my PhD institute's ( The Sainsbury Laboratory) stall at the Norwich science festival. Stall consisted of several plant pathology themed practicals targeted towards the general public advertising the innovative science being conducted at the Research Park and the current challenges facing global food security. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://norwichsciencefestival.co.uk/ |
| Description | Women of the Future 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The event was attended by over 200 female years 10 students from schools across Norfolk and North Suffolk with the aim at encouraging girls to work to pursue STEMM careers and take STEMM subjects and A-Level and University. I participated in my institute's stall which ran plant pathology themed practicals and also featured posters of our bios showing our journey to becoming biology PhD students. We also answered career questions such as what subjects we had studied at university and what we were hoping to after our PhDs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.jic.ac.uk/training-careers/work-experience/women-of-the-future/ |
| Description | Women of the Future Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The event was attended by 170 girls, largely year 10, from 17 schools across Norfolk and Suffolk. The event was hosted at the John Innes Centre and was designed to inspire the next generation of female STEMM professionals. As well as attending talks and Q&A sessions with researchers from the research park there was a session where the girls got to interact with a number of female PhD students from the research park to learn about their research and experience working in a STEMM profession. I partook in this session where I also presented a poster of my PhD research thus far. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.jic.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2016/11/-women-future-2016/ |