Engineering plant tandem kinase immune receptors expands effector recognition profiles.

Engineering plant tandem kinase immune receptors with modified HMA domains creates dual-specificity receptors, broadening effector recognition in cereal crops.

• Why it matters: Expanding the ability of immune receptors to recognize diverse pathogen effectors is crucial for developing durable disease resistance in staple crops like wheat and barley, addressing global food security.
• What they did: The study analyzed the structures of barley and wheat TKPs Rmo2 and Rwt7, identifying key interface residues that determine effector recognition, and engineered these domains to achieve dual specificity.
• The result: This work demonstrates that integrated HMA domains are programmable modules, enabling the design of TKPs with expanded effector recognition profiles to enhance crop immunity.