A wheat tandem kinase sensor activates an NLR helper to trigger immunity

Chen, R.; Chen, J.; Outram, M. A.; Powell, O. R.; Arndell, T.; Gajendiran, K.; Wang, Y. L.; Ayliffe, M. A.; Blundell, C.; Figueroa, M.; Sperschneider, J.; Vanhercke, T.; Tang, D.; Xu, Y.; Zhong, G.; Gardener, C.; Yu, G.; Gourdoupis, S.; Jaremko, L.; Matny, O.; Steffenson, B. J.; Boshoff, W. H. P.; Meyer, W. B.; Arold, S. T.; Dodds, P. N.; Wulff, B. B. H.

doi:10.1101/2024.08.30.610287

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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2024.08.30.610287

A wheat tandem kinase sensor activates an NLR helper to trigger immunity

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Abstract

Most plant resistance genes encode membrane-anchored receptor-like proteins or intracellular nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat (NLR) receptors. In wheat and barley, tandem kinases (TKs) have emerged as a new class of resistance determinants. To understand the modus operandi of the wheat stem rust resistance protein Sr62TK, we identified two genetic interactors-- a host gene required for Sr62TK function and the corresponding fungal AvrSr62 effector. We discovered that the SR62 locus consists of a digenic module encoding Sr62TK and an NLR (Sr62NLR). AvrSr62 binds to the N-terminal kinase of Sr62TK. This triggers displacement of the C-terminal kinase allowing it to recruit Sr62NLR for activation of immune responses. Understanding the mechanism of this two-component resistance complex will help engineering and breeding for durable resistance.

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Chen, R., Chen, J., Outram, M. A., Powell, O. R., Arndell, T., Gajendiran, K., Wang, Y. L., Ayliffe, M. A., Blundell, C., Figueroa, M., Sperschneider, J., Vanhercke, T., Tang, D., Xu, Y., Zhong, G., Gardener, C., Yu, G., Gourdoupis, S., Jaremko, L., Matny, O., Steffenson, B. J., Boshoff, W. H. P., Meyer, W. B., Arold, S. T., Dodds, P. N., Wulff, B. B. H.. 2024-08-30. A wheat tandem kinase sensor activates an NLR helper to trigger immunity. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.08.30.610287

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