Binding of a pathogen effector to rice Exo70 proteins tethered to the NOI/RIN4 integrated domain of the NLR receptor Pii2 confers immunity against fungi

As much as 10% of plant immune receptors from the nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat (NLR) family carry integrated domains (IDs) that can directly bind pathogen effectors. However, it remains unclear whether direct binding to effectors is a universal feature of ID-containing NLRs given that only a few NLR-IDs have been functionally characterized. Here we show that the rice (Oryza sativa) sensor NLR-ID Pii2 confers resistance to strains of the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae that carry the effector AVR-Pii without directly binding this protein. First, we show that AVR-Pii binds the exocyst subunit OsExo70F2 in rice (Oryza sativa) to dissociate preformed complexes of OsExo70F2 with host RPM1 INTERACTING PROTEIN4 (RIN4) at the conserved NOI motif, facilitating a possible virulence function. Second, we show that in its resting state, Pii2 binds OsExo70F2 and OsExo70F3, essential components of Pii-mediated resistance, through its integrated NOI domain. Remarkably, AVR-Pii binding to OsExo70F2/F3 leads to dissociation of the Pii2-OsExo70F2 and Pii2-OsExo70F3 complexes, destabilization of Pii2, and activation of immunity. These findings support a novel conceptual model in which an NLR-ID monitors alterations of tethered host proteins targeted by pathogen effectors, providing insight into pathogen recognition mechanisms. Significance statementPlant diseases diminish crop yields by over 20% each year, and deploying resistant crops is the most effective way to combat them. Nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat (NLR)-type receptors are the major player in plant resistance against pathogens, with a subset of NLRs containing unconventional domains called integrated domains (ID) derived from host proteins. Previous studies suggest that pathogen avirulence (AVR) effectors directly bind or modify NLR-IDs before they are recognized by the host. Here, we reveal that the rice NLR-ID receptor Pii2 indirectly recognizes AVR-Pii when the effector dissociates Pii2 from the host Exo70 proteins tethered to Pii2. We propose a new model of how NLRs can recognize pathogens, expanding our understanding of plant immunity.