A receptor kinase senses sterol by coupling with elicitins in auxotrophic Phytophthora

Sterols are vital nutrients and signals for eukaryotic organisms. Mammalian cells are known to sense and respond to sterol status changes to maintain them within strict limits, a process associated with various human diseases. However, this process is not understood in oomycete pathogens, most of which are sterol auxotrophic and must obtain sterols from host plants. Here, we report that