NLR
immune
receptors
can
be
functionally
organized
in
genetically
linked
sensor-helper
pairs.
However,
methods
to
categorize
paired
NLRs
remain
limited,
primarily
relying
on
the
presence
of
non-canonical
domains
some
sensor
NLRs.
Here,
we
propose
that
AI
system
AlphaFold
3
classify
proteins
into
or
helper
categories
based
predicted
structural
characteristics.
Helper
showed
higher
confidence
scores
than
sensors
when
modelled
oligomeric
configurations.
Furthermore,
funnel-shaped
structures—essential
for
activating
responses—were
reliably
helpers
but
not
sensors.
Applying
this
method
uncharacterized
pairs
from
rice,
found
differentiate
between
putative
and
even
both
lack
domain
annotations.
These
findings
suggest
offers
a
new
approach
enhances
our
understanding
functional
configurations
plant
systems,
absence
Cell,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
187(9), P. 2095 - 2116
Published: April 1, 2024
Plant
diseases
cause
famines,
drive
human
migration,
and
present
challenges
to
agricultural
sustainability
as
pathogen
ranges
shift
under
climate
change.
breeders
discovered
Mendelian
genetic
loci
conferring
disease
resistance
specific
isolates
over
100
years
ago.
Subsequent
breeding
for
underpins
modern
agriculture
and,
along
with
the
emergence
focus
on
model
plants
genetics
genomics
research,
has
provided
rich
resources
molecular
biological
exploration
last
50
years.
These
studies
led
identification
of
extracellular
intracellular
receptors
that
convert
recognition
microbe-encoded
patterns
or
pathogen-delivered
virulence
effectors
into
defense
activation.
receptor
systems,
downstream
responses,
define
plant
immune
systems
have
evolved
since
migration
land
∼500
million
Our
current
understanding
provides
platform
development
rational
enhancement
control
many
continue
plague
crop
production.
Science Advances,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
10(45)
Published: Nov. 6, 2024
NRCs
are
essential
helper
NLR
(nucleotide-binding
domain
and
leucine-rich
repeat)
proteins
that
execute
immune
responses
triggered
by
sensor
NLRs.
The
resting
state
of
NbNRC2
was
recently
shown
to
be
a
homodimer,
but
the
sensor-activated
remains
unclear.
Using
cryo-EM,
we
determined
structure
NbNRC2,
which
forms
hexameric
inflammasome-like
resistosome.
Mutagenesis
oligomerization
interface
abolished
signaling,
confirming
functional
significance
Comparative
structural
analyses
between
homodimer
homohexamer
revealed
substantial
rearrangements,
providing
insights
into
activation
mechanisms.
Furthermore,
comparisons
hexamer
previously
reported
CC-NLR
pentameric
assemblies
features
allowing
an
additional
protomer
integration.
structure,
assessed
released
AlphaFold
3
for
predicting
activated
oligomers,
revealing
high-confidence
modeling
other
amino-terminal
α1
helices,
region
proven
difficult
resolve
structurally.
Overall,
our
work
sheds
light
on
mechanisms
expands
understanding
diversity.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Aug. 9, 2024
Abstract
Sr50,
an
intracellular
nucleotide-binding
leucine-rich
repeat
receptor
(NLR),
confers
resistance
of
wheat
against
stem
rust
caused
by
the
fungal
pathogen
Puccinia
graminis
f.
sp.
tritici
.
The
recognizes
effector
AvrSr50
through
its
C-terminal
domain,
initiating
a
localized
cell
death
immune
response.
However,
this
immunity
is
compromised
mutations
in
effector,
as
escape
mutant
QCMJC
,
which
evades
Sr50
detection.
In
study,
we
employed
iterative
computational
structural
analyses
and
site-directed
mutagenesis
for
rational
engineering
to
gain
recognition
Following
initial
hypothesis
driven
molecular
docking,
identified
K711D
single
mutant,
induces
intermediate
response
without
losing
AvrSr50.
Increasing
gene
expression
with
stronger
promoter
enabled
elicit
robust
response,
indicating
weak
can
be
complemented
enhanced
expression.
Further
refinements
led
creation
five
double
mutants
two
triple
dual
greater
intensities
than
mutant.
All
effective
required
substitution,
that
multiple
solutions
exist
recognition,
but
path
reach
these
may
confined.
Furthermore,
substitution
alters
prediction
AlphaFold
2,
allowing
it
model
complex
structure
match
our
final
hypothesis.
Collectively,
study
outlines
framework
NLR
systems
overcome
provides
datasets
future
models
resurrection.
Journal of Integrative Plant Biology,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Jan. 7, 2025
ABSTRACT
Plant
viruses
cause
substantial
agricultural
devastation
and
economic
losses
worldwide.
nucleotide‐binding
domain
leucine‐rich
repeat
receptors
(NLRs)
play
a
pivotal
role
in
detecting
viral
infection
activating
robust
immune
responses.
Recent
advances,
including
the
elucidation
of
interaction
mechanisms
between
NLRs
pathogen
effectors,
discovery
helper
NLRs,
resolution
ZAR1
resistosome
structure,
have
significantly
deepened
our
understanding
NLR‐mediated
responses,
marking
new
era
NLR
research.
In
this
scenario,
significant
progress
has
been
made
study
antiviral
immunity.
This
review
comprehensively
summarizes
plant
research
over
past
decades,
with
focus
on
recognition
activation
regulation,
downstream
signaling,
engineering
NLRs.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
26(2), P. 500 - 500
Published: Jan. 9, 2025
We
test
here
the
prediction
capabilities
of
new
generation
deep
learning
predictors
in
more
challenging
situation
multistate
multidomain
proteins
by
using
as
a
case
study
coiled-coil
family
Nucleotide-binding
Oligomerization
Domain-like
(NOD-like)
receptors
from
A.
thaliana
and
few
extra
examples
for
reference.
Results
reveal
truly
remarkable
ability
these
platforms
to
correctly
predict
3D
structure
modules
that
fold
well-established
topologies.
A
lower
performance
is
noticed
modeling
morphing
regions
proteins,
such
coiled
coils.
Predictors
also
display
good
sensitivity
local
sequence
drifts
upon
solution
overall
modular
configuration.
In
multivalued
1D
mappings,
marked
tendency
model
most
compact
configuration
must
be
retrained
information
filtering
drive
toward
sparser
ones.
Bias
order
compactness
seen
at
secondary
level
well.
All
all,
AI
when
global
templates
are
hand
fruitful,
but
above
challenges
have
taken
into
account.
absence
templates,
piecewise
approach
with
experimentally
constrained
reconstruction
architecture
might
give
realistic
results.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Feb. 25, 2025
ABSTRACT
Nucleotide-binding
domain
and
leucine-rich
repeat
immune
receptors
(NLRs)
are
known
for
their
rapid
evolution,
even
at
the
intraspecific
level,
yet
rates
of
evolution
differ
significantly
across
various
NLR
classes.
Within
NRC
(NLR
Required
Cell
Death)
network,
NLRs
operate
in
complex
sensor-helper
configurations
to
confer
immunity
against
a
diverse
array
pathogens,
particularly
Asterids.
While
helper
typically
conserved
evolve
slowly,
sensor
tend
more
rapidly.
However,
functional
connections
between
slow
fast-evolving
remain
poorly
understood,
notably
important
crop
species.
We
conducted
comparative
analysis
40
Solanales
29
Asterales
genomes
explore
network
expansion
diversification
within
less-studied
order.
Our
findings
reveal
that
has
expanded
less
compared
Solanales.
functionally
validated
minimal
with
2
helpers
9
sensors
common
lettuce
(
Lactuca
sativa
).
Through
selection
structural
modeling
subclades
genus,
we
found
varying
evolutionary
sensors.
correlation
dependency,
reliant
on
phylogenetically
experiencing
limited
pressure.
results
highlight
lineage-
function-specific
offering
insights
into
pressures
shaping
plant
receptor
networks.
PLoS Genetics,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
21(4), P. e1011653 - e1011653
Published: April 9, 2025
Parasites
can
counteract
host
immunity
by
suppressing
nucleotide
binding
and
leucine-rich
repeat
(NLR)
proteins
that
function
as
immune
receptors.
We
previously
showed
a
cyst
nematode
virulence
effector
SPRYSEC15
(SS15)
binds
inhibits
oligomerisation
of
helper
NLR
in
the
expanded
NRC1/2/3
clade
preventing
intramolecular
rearrangements
required
for
NRC
into
an
activated
resistosome.
Here
we
examined
degree
to
which
from
multiple
Solanaceae
species
are
sensitive
suppression
SS15
tested
hypotheses
about
adaptive
evolution
interface
between
inhibitor
proteins.
Whereas
all
orthologs
NRC2
were
inhibited
SS15,
some
natural
variants
NRC1
NRC3
insensitive
suppression.
Ancestral
sequence
reconstruction
combined
with
functional
assays
revealed
transitioned
ancestral
suppressed
form
one
over
19
million
years
ago.
Our
analyses
evolutionary
trajectory
receptor
against
parasite
inhibitor,
identifying
key
transitions
NLRs
this
inhibition.
This
work
reveals
distinct
type
gene-for-gene
interaction
or
pathogen
immunosuppressors
receptors
contrasts
coevolution
AVR
effectors
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: June 3, 2025
Summary
Nucleotide-binding
leucine-rich
repeat
receptors
(NLRs)
are
critical
in
plant
immunity
and
display
remarkable
allelic
diversity.
Coiled-coiled
NLRs
(CC-NLRs)
the
most
widespread
group
of
these
found
across
flowering
non-flowering
plants.
Here
we
investigate
sequence
conservation
functional
variation
conserved
EDVID
motif
α3-helix
cell
death
inducing
CC
domain
NLRs.
We
analyse
our
findings
context
published
protein
structures
structure
prediction.
find
that
can
serve
as
a
predictor
canonical
CC-NLR
function
oligomeric
assembly.
also
is
accompanied
by
preceding
acidic
residues
certain
CC-NLRs
with
homology
to
Arabidopsis
RPP8.
The
appearance
this
so-called
preEDVID
phylogeny
plants
its
contribution
underpins
structural
diversity
motif.
further
show
exist
have
lost
suggesting
subgroup,
previously
referred
G10
-NLRs,
functions
different
manner
from
mechanism.
located
helper
NLR
NRG1.1
linked
activity.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Nov. 26, 2024
ABSTRACT
NLR
immune
receptors
can
be
functionally
organized
in
genetically
linked
sensor-helper
pairs.
However,
methods
to
categorize
paired
NLRs
remain
limited,
primarily
relying
on
the
presence
of
non-canonical
domains
some
sensor
NLRs.
Here,
we
propose
that
AI
system
AlphaFold
3
classify
proteins
into
or
helper
categories
based
predicted
structural
characteristics.
Helper
showed
higher
confidence
scores
than
sensors
when
modelled
oligomeric
configurations.
Furthermore,
funnel-shaped
structures—essential
for
activating
responses—were
reliably
helpers
but
not
sensors.
Applying
this
method
uncharacterized
pairs
from
rice,
found
differentiate
between
putative
and
even
both
lack
domain
annotations.
These
findings
suggest
offers
a
new
approach
enhances
our
understanding
functional
configurations
plant
systems,
absence