title: NLR functions in plant and animal immune systems: so far and yet so close.
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.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Department of Plant-Microbe Interactions, Köln, Germany.
authors.forename: Takaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maekawa
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Kufer
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schulze-Lefert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005075:Biological Evolution; D016923:Cell Death; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005658:Fungi / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D051379:Mice; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D057865:Plant Immunity; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D010944:Plants / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051192:Receptors, Pattern Recognition / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D054380:Receptors, CXCR5
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D010940:Plant Proteins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D051192:Receptors, Pattern Recognition; C513179:CXCR5 protein, mouse; D054380:Receptors, CXCR5