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NLR functions in plant and animal immune systems: so far and yet so close

Nature Immunology volume 12, pages 817–826 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

In plants and animals, the NLR family of receptors perceives non-self and modified-self molecules inside host cells and mediates innate immune responses to microbial pathogens. Despite their similar biological functions and protein architecture, animal NLRs are normally activated by conserved microbe- or damage-associated molecular patterns, whereas plant NLRs typically detect strain-specific pathogen effectors. Plant NLRs recognize either the effector structure or effector-mediated modifications of host proteins. The latter indirect mechanism for the perception of non-self, as well as the within-species diversification of plant NLRs, maximize the capacity to recognize non-self through the use of a finite number of innate immunoreceptors. We discuss recent insights into NLR activation, signal initiation through the homotypic association of N-terminal domains and subcellular receptor dynamics in plants and compare those with NLR functions in animals.

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Figure 1: Mode of action of NLRs in plant and animal innate immune systems.

Katie Vicari

Figure 2: Polymorphic surface patches of N-terminal TIR and CC domains of plant NLRs are critical for receptor function.
Figure 3: NLR signal initiation mediated by the N-terminal module.

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Acknowledgements

Supported by German Research Foundation in the collaborative research centre SFB670 (T.M., T.A.K. and P.S.-L.) and the Max Planck Society (P.S.-L.).

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  1. Department of Plant-Microbe Interactions, Max-Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Köln, Germany

    Takaki Maekawa & Paul Schulze-Lefert

  2. Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany

    Thomas A Kufer

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  1. Takaki Maekawa
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Maekawa, T., Kufer, T. & Schulze-Lefert, P. NLR functions in plant and animal immune systems: so far and yet so close. Nat Immunol 12, 817–826 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ni.2083

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