What have we learned over the past 30 years since the discovery of the first TIR-containing plant immune receptor?
Zhang D, Li Y, Zhang X, Zhong C, Baker B
Summary
PubMedThis review examines 30 years of research on how plants recognize and fight viral infections. Scientists discovered a key immune protein called N in tobacco plants that detects viruses and triggers self-destruction to prevent spread, providing a model for understanding plant defenses and engineering disease-resistant crops.
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Key Findings
The N gene, isolated from Nicotiana glutinosa in the 1990s, was the first identified TIR-domain-containing NLR immune receptor, establishing a major milestone in understanding plant innate immunity across kingdoms
N detects tobacco mosaic virus by recognizing the p50 helicase domain of the viral replicase through receptor-interacting proteins, triggering a hypersensitive response that prevents viral spread
Over 30 years of N gene research has revealed conserved mechanisms in plant-pathogen interactions and a molecular network governing immune responses, with direct applications for engineering disease resistance in crops
Original Abstract
Cloning of the necrotic-type response gene (N gene) from Nicotiana glutinosa in the 1990s identified the first Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR)-domain-containing nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat (NLR) immune receptor, marking a significant milestone in understanding innate immunity across plants, animals, and, more recently, prokaryotes. N confers resistance to tobacco mosaic virus by detecting the viral p50 helicase domain of the replicase through an N receptor-interacting protein, thereby triggering a hypersensitive response that prevents viral spread. Over the past 30 years, research on N has established it as a key model for studying NLR receptor function, revealing conserved mechanisms in plant-pathogen interactions. Here, we review the complex regulation of NLR-mediated immunity and propose a molecular network that governs immune responses, with implications for engineering disease resistance in crops.
This connects to 9 other discoveries — 1 species, 3 topics, 5 related articles
Species Mentioned
Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus Nicotiana of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. Seventy-nine species of tobacco are known, but the chief commercial crop is N. tabacum. The more potent variant N. rus...
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