{
  "abstract": "Phytopathogenic fungi secrete effector proteins to promote virulence. The MAX ( Magnaporthe Avrs and ToxB-like) effectors form a structurally conserved family despite significant sequence diversity. AVR-Pia, a MAX effector from the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, is recognised by the model rice nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) receptor pair OsRGA4/OsRGA5 via direct binding to a heavy metal-associated (HMA) integrated domain (ID) in OsRGA5. While the structural basis of AVR-Pia recognition is well defined, the role of this effector in promoting virulence has remained elusive. Here, we reveal that AVR-Pia specifically interacts with four previously uncharacterised rice HMA domain-containing proteins, three HMA Plant Proteins (OsHPP09, OsHPP10 and OsHPP11), and one HMA Isoprenylated Plant Protein (OsHIPP21). AVR-Pia binds these proteins in vitro and in planta, engaging their HMA domains with differential affinities. Notably, AVR-Pia binds OsHPP09-HMA with considerably higher affinity than the HMA-ID of OsRGA5. By solving the crystal structure of the AVR-Pia/OsHPP09-HMA complex, we identified additional molecular contacts at the interface which underpin high affinity binding. Importantly, the H(I)PPs identified as AVR-Pia interactors are distinct from those bound by the MAX effectors AVR-Pik and Pwl2, underscoring target specialisation within the MAX effector family. Further, structural analyses of the AVR-Pia/OsHPP09-HMA complex revealed a markedly different interface compared to other MAX effector/H(I)PP complexes. Finally, structure-guided mutagenesis of OsHPP09 identified a single residue that is critical for AVR-Pia binding. This work provides structural insight into how distinct MAX effectors exploit HMA domain-containing proteins and offers a foundation towards targeted modification of HMA domains to disrupt effector binding and enhance cereal resistance to blast disease.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 11,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Josephine Maidment"
    },
    {
      "name": "Svenja Saile"
    },
    {
      "name": "Aurélien Bocquet"
    },
    {
      "name": "Céline Thivolle"
    },
    {
      "name": "Léo Bourcet"
    },
    {
      "name": "Lisa-Fatimatou Planel"
    },
    {
      "name": "Muriel Gelin"
    },
    {
      "name": "Thomas Kroj"
    },
    {
      "name": "André Padilla"
    },
    {
      "name": "Karine de Guillen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Stella Cesari"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3f8265md6xjw2.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.ppat.1014382",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "3f8265md6xjw2",
  "issns": [
    "1553-7366",
    "1553-7374"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05800307v1",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "hal",
      "0.sdv"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1110|Plant Disease Resistance and Genetics"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7168128079",
  "pdf_url": "https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05800307/document",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-07-13",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3f8265md6xjw2.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:02Z",
      "native_id": "hal-05800307",
      "source": "hal",
      "url": "https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05800307v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:1110|Plant Disease Resistance and Genetics",
      "subfield": "plant-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Two folds, many faces: The Magnaporthe oryzae MAX effector AVR-Pia targets novel rice HMA domain-containing proteins",
  "title_text": "Two folds, many faces: The Magnaporthe oryzae MAX effector AVR-Pia targets novel rice HMA domain-containing proteins",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:02Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3f8265md6xjw2",
  "venue": "PLoS Pathogens",
  "versions": []
}