A conserved oomycete effector RxLR23 triggers plant defense responses by targeting ERD15La to release NbNAC68.

Sheng, Hui; Ai, Congcong; Yang, Cancan; Zhu, Chunyuan; Meng, Zhe; Wu, Fengzhi; Wang, Xiaodan; Dou, Daolong et al. · Nat Commun · 2024

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Oomycete pathogens deliver many effectors to enhance virulence or suppress plant immunity. Plant immune networks are interconnected, in which a few effectors can trigger a strong defense response when recognized by immunity-related proteins. How effectors activate plant defense response remains poorly understood. Here we report Phytophthora capsici effector RxLR23<sup>KM</sup> can induce plant cell death and plant immunity. RxLR23<sup>KM</sup> specifically binds to ERD15La, a regulator of abscisic acid and salicylic acid pathway, and the binding intensity depends on the amino acid residues (K<sup>93</sup> and M<sup>320</sup>). NbNAC68, a downstream protein of ERD15La, can stimulate plant immunity that is compromised after binding with ERD15La. Silencing of NbNAC68 substantially prevents the activation of plant defense response. RxLR23<sup>KM</sup> binds to ERD15La, releasing NbNAC68 to activate plant immunity. These findings highlight a strategy of plant defense response that ERD15La as a central regulator coordinates RxLR23<sup>KM</sup> to regulate NbNAC68-triggered plant immunity.

Medical subject headings