Engineering Plant Immunity

This research explores the mechanism by which the FLS2 receptor, a key player in plant immunity, recognizes bacterial flagellin and triggers a defense response. The study discovered that some FLS2 homologs have expanded recognition ranges and can detect a wider variety of flagellin variants. Using structure-guided engineering, researchers were able to introduce these expanded recognition capabilities into FLS2 homologs with narrower perception ranges. They identified specific amino acid properties and AlphaFold3 metrics that contribute to FLS2-flg22 recognition, providing a framework for rationally designing receptors with enhanced pathogen restriction. Evolutionary analysis revealed positive selection on FLS2 residues involved in flagellin and co-receptor binding, supporting the hypothesis that expanded perception is an advantageous evolutionary adaptation. Original study: Unlocking Expanded Flagellin Perception Through Rational Receptor Engineering Tianrun Li, Esteban Jarquin Bolaños, Danielle M. Stevens, Hanxu Sha, Daniil M. Prigozhin, Gitta Coaker: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.09.09.612155