MSL Seminar Series: January – Invited Speaker, Dr. Jijie Chai

Invited Speaker:
Dr. Jijie Chai
Alexander von Humboldt Professor, University of Cologne
Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research

Talk title: Biochemical functions of plant NLRs

Nucleotide binding and leucine-rich repeat containing receptors (NLRs) play a critical role in innate immunity of both animals and plants. Plant NLRs mediate specific recognition of pathogen effector proteins delivered into cells, initiating effector-triggered immunity (ETI). Significant progress has been made in our understanding of ETI signaling mechanism during the past three years. Recognition of pathogen effectors results in assembly of oligomeric NLRs, forming large protein complexes termed resistosomes that act as either cation channels or NADase holoenzymes to initiate ETI signaling. I will present what we have done about reconstitution of NLR resistosomes and structural and biochemical characterization of these large protein complexes. I will also present some unpublished data concerning a new biochemical activity (2´,3´-cAMP/cGMP synthetase actvity) of plant TIR-containing.

Host: Dr. Xin Li

Zoom registration link: https://ubc.zoom.us/meeting/register/u5IkdOysqjMvGNz8zvdwCipcPywnaisK9dt9