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Poster

Session: Session 2 Presenting Authors at Posters (Evens)

P-130 - Importins are essential nodes for plant NLR activation and pathogen immune suppression

Thursday, July 17, 2025
13:30 - 15:15  
Location: Confex Hall 3
Effector Interference Mechanisms

    Author(s)

  • QL

    Qing Liu

    Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Beijing, Beijing, China

  • WX

    Wenxin Xing

    Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Beijing, Beijing, China (People's Republic)

  • DM

    Daniel Monino-Lopez

    Plant Breeding, Wageningen University and Research
    Wageningen, Gelderland, Netherlands

  • JS

    Jan Sklenar

    The Sainsbury Laboratory
    Norwich, England, United Kingdom

  • FM

    Frank L.H. Menke

    The Sainsbury Laboratory
    Norwich, England, United Kingdom

  • JV

    Jack Vossen

    Wageningen University & Research
    Wageningen, Gelderland, Netherlands

  • JJ

    Jonathan D. G. Jones

    Prof. Group leader
    The Sainsbury Laboratory
    Norwich, England, United Kingdom

    • Presenting Author(s)

  • XL

    Xiao Lin

    corresponding author
    Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

Plants possess a two-layer immune system comprising pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI). However, plant pathogens secrete effectors to subvert host immunity, a process known as effector-triggered susceptibility (ETS), yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Previously, we identified R04373, a resistance protein from Solanum americanum, which specifically recognizes the Phytophthora infestans effector PITG_04373. However, R04373 does not confer effective resistance against P. infestans. We found that the nuclear localization signal (NLS) of R04373 is crucial for its function and that R04373 is associated with PITG_04373. To investigate how R04373-mediated immunity is compromised, we screened a P. infestans RXLR effector library and identified S04373, an effector that specifically suppresses the hypersensitive response (HR) triggered by R04373 and PITG_04373. Notably, S04373 also suppresses the Rpi-chc1 and R2-mediated HR. Further analysis revealed that S04373 inhibits ETI by targeting host importin α and β, which are essential components in the nuclear protein import pathway. These findings reveal that nuclear transport is indispensable for ETI activation and serves as a key target for pathogen effectors. Understanding the ETS mechanism will contribute to designing the plant immune system and restoring the impaired R genes.