Plant “helper” immune receptors are Ca <sup>2+</sup> -permeable nonselective cation channels
Pierre Jacob, Nak Hyun Kim, Fei-Hua Wu, Farid El Kasmi, Yuan Chi, William G. Walton, Oliver J. Furzer, Adam D. Lietzan, Sruthi Sunil, Korina Kempthorn, Matthew R. Redinbo, Zhen‐Ming Pei, Li Wan, Jeffery L. Dangl
Abstract
Calcium signaling for host cell death In response to microbial pathogens, some plants kill off their own cells to limit further spread of infection. The Toll/Interleukin-1 receptor/Resistance class of nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat receptors (known as TNLs) function in plants as immune receptors. These TNLs work together with a dedicated set of helper proteins. Jacob et al. reveal the structure of one of these helpers known as NRG1 (N REQUIREMENT GENE 1). The structure resembles a known animal cation channel. The authors demonstrate that helper NLRs directly control calcium ion influx to initiate host cell death, providing a mechanism for TNL outputs. Science , abg7917, this issue p. 420