The molecular architecture of three key proteins and their
complexes reveals how plants fine-tune their immune response to pathogens
Plants rarely get sick in their natural environment. When
the threat of infection arises, a quick decision is made about the necessary
countermeasures. The course is set by a protein which forms complexes with its
partner proteins for this purpose. Jane Parker from the Max Planck Institute
for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne and Karsten Niefind from the Institute
of Biochemistry at the University of Cologne have, together with colleagues,
determined the three-dimensional structure of such a key complex. These
molecular close-ups will enable scientists to reach a better understanding of
plant immunity in the near future.