Figure: Photo Source: John Innes Centre

Researchers from John Innes Centre (JIC) have mapped out the plant immune system. The research provides a roadmap to plant immunity, with a focus on cell-surface and intracellular immune receptors.

In a paper published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Professor Mark Banfield, leader of the BBSRC-funded Plant Health Institute Strategic Programme (ISP) at the John Innes Centre and corresponding author of the review said the overview explains concepts of the plant immune system to readers from diverse research backgrounds, including biological chemists, structural biologists, and biophysicists.

In the paper, the research team describes how receptors perceive signatures of pathogens and pests and initiate immune pathways. The merged existing concepts with new insights gained from recent breakthroughs on the structure and function of plant immune receptors, which have generated a shift in understanding cell-surface and intracellular immunity and the interplay between the two. This understanding of plant immunity helped discuss the potential of engineering the plant immune system with the aim of bolstering plant defenses against disease.

For more details, read the article on the JIC website. The full, open-access paper is available here.