Fig. 1: MoNLE1 is a host nucleus–localized core virulence effector.

a Domain organization of MoNLE1. SP, signal peptide; NLS, nuclear localization signal; aa, amino acids. b Phylogenetic analysis of MoNLE1 from rice, wheat, and grass isolates of Magnaporthe oryzae. c Relative MoNLE1 expression level in mycelia (My), spores (Sp), and plants at the indicated time points. Data are means ± s.d. from three biological replicates. hpi, hours post inoculation. d Pathogenicity test of monle1 and complementation (COM) strains. GUY11 (wild type, WT) and a strain harboring an ectopic insertion of the HPT disruption cassette (Ectopic) were used as controls. Data are means ± s.d. from the indicated number of biological replicates. Scale bar, 1 cm. e Subcellular localization of MoNLE1-GFP in the cells of rice sheaths during M. oryzae infection. Red arrowheads indicate the biotrophic interfacial complex (BIC); asterisks indicate host cell nuclei. AP, appressorium. Scale bars, 5 μm. f Subcellular localization of MoNLE1-GFP in rice protoplasts. Free mCherry was used to label the nucleus and cytoplasm. g Heterologous expression of MoNLE1-HA (Ubip:MoNLE1-HA) decreases immunity in rice. The punch inoculation method was used to determine the disease phenotype; images were taken 9 days post inoculation (dpi). Relative fungal biomass was used to quantify disease symptoms. Data are means ± s.d. from four biological replicates. Scale bar, 1 cm. h Time-course accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cumulative levels in Ubip:MoNLE1-HA (line #6) and wild-type (NPB) rice plants upon treatment with flg22 or chitin. Data are means ± s.e.m. from the indicated number of biological replicates. Data were analyzed by one-way (d, g) or two-way (h) analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s test, and the adjusted p values were shown in figures. Data in e, f are representatives of three independent experiments with similar results.