AmirAli Toghani

A conserved small RNA-generating gene cluster undergoes sequence diversification and contributes to plant immunity

The paper identifies a conserved PPR gene cluster in Arabidopsis that generates siRNAs and contributes to plant immunity through sequence diversification.

A conserved structural logic underlies sensor-helper NLR communication in the NRC immune receptor network

The paper identifies conserved sensor-helper NLR interfaces in the NRC immune receptor network and validates their role in immune activation through structural and functional studies.

AI-guided discovery of atypical protein assemblies

The paper introduces SNI, a framework to identify atypical protein assemblies, and applies it to NLRs, finding an undecameric assembly in NRC7 orthologs.

A helper NLR channels organellar calcium to trigger plant immunity

This study identifies NRG1 as a plant NLR receptor that targets chloroplasts to trigger immunity by channeling stromal calcium into the cytosol, revealing a novel mechanism for organelle-specific immune signaling.

A broad-host-range Rhizobium rhizogenes strain enables transient expression across diverse crops and establishes functional assays in faba bean

The autoactivity of tomato helper NLR immune proteins of the NRC clade is unaltered in prf mutants of Nicotiana benthamiana

The study shows that autoactive mutants of tomato NRC proteins still induce cell death in prf mutants and in lettuce, indicating a unidirectional dependency in the NRC immune network.

Can AI modelling of protein structures distinguish between sensor and helper NLR immune receptors?

AlphaFold 3 oligomer models separate paired plant NLRs: helpers score higher pTM and form funnel-shaped resistosomes unlike sensors, including some rice pairs lacking integrated-domain annotations.

An effector from the potato late blight pathogen bridges ENTH-domain protein TOL9a to an activated helper NLR to suppress immunity

This paper identifies an effector from Phytophthora infestans that bridges NbTOL9a to an activated NLR to suppress immunity, revealing a novel structural and functional mechanism.

Helper NLR immune protein NRC3 evolved to evade inhibition by a cyst nematode virulence effector

The paper shows that NRC3 evolved to resist suppression by a nematode effector, revealing a new type of gene-for-gene interaction between pathogens and host immune receptors.

A hierarchical immune receptor network in lettuce reveals contrasting patterns of evolution in sensor and helper NLRs

The paper analyzes NLR evolution in lettuce and related species, finding that sensor NLRs evolve faster than helper NLRs and that sensor diversification is linked to helper dependency.

A disease resistance protein triggers oligomerization of its NLR helper into a hexameric resistosome to mediate innate immunity

This study determines the structure of sensor-activated NbNRC2 using cryo-EM, revealing a hexameric resistosome and highlighting structural changes during NLR activation.