Global translational induction during NLR-mediated immunity in plants is dynamically regulated by CDC123, an ATP-sensitive protein

The recognition of pathogen effectors by their cognate nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) receptors activates effector-triggered immunity (ETI) in plants. ETI is associated with correlated transcriptional and translational reprogramming and subsequent death of infected cells. Whether ETI-associated translation is actively regulated or passively driven by transcriptional dynamics remains unknown. In a genetic screen using a translational reporter, we identified CDC123, an ATP-grasp protein, as a key activator of ETI-associated translation and defense. During ETI, an increase in ATP concentration facilitates CDC123-mediated assembly of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2) complex. Because ATP is required for the activation of NLRs as well as the CDC123 function, we uncovered a possible mechanism by which the defense translatome is coordinately induced during NLR-mediated immunity. The conservation of the CDC123-mediated eIF2 assembly suggests its possible role in NLR-mediated immunity beyond plants.