NPR1, a key immune regulator for plant survival under biotic and abiotic stresses

Mol Cell. 2024 Jan 4;84(1):131-141. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.11.018. Epub 2023 Dec 15.

Abstract

Nonexpressor of pathogenesis-related genes 1 (NPR1) was discovered in Arabidopsis as an activator of salicylic acid (SA)-mediated immune responses nearly 30 years ago. How NPR1 confers resistance against a variety of pathogens and stresses has been extensively studied; however, only in recent years have the underlying molecular mechanisms been uncovered, particularly NPR1's role in SA-mediated transcriptional reprogramming, stress protein homeostasis, and cell survival. Structural analyses ultimately defined NPR1 and its paralogs as SA receptors. The SA-bound NPR1 dimer induces transcription by bridging two TGA transcription factor dimers, forming an enhanceosome. Moreover, NPR1 orchestrates its multiple functions through the formation of distinct nuclear and cytoplasmic biomolecular condensates. Furthermore, NPR1 plays a central role in plant health by regulating the crosstalk between SA and other defense and growth hormones. In this review, we focus on these recent advances and discuss how NPR1 can be utilized to engineer resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses.

Keywords: NPR1; crop protection; disease resistance; plant immunity; plant stress; salicylic acid; systemic acquired resistance.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis Proteins* / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis* / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Salicylic Acid / chemistry
  • Salicylic Acid / metabolism
  • Salicylic Acid / pharmacology
  • Stress, Physiological
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Salicylic Acid
  • Transcription Factors
  • NPR1 protein, Arabidopsis