Biological Functions of the Src-Cas Protein Complex

Src-Cas 蛋白复合物的生物学功能

• 批准号: 0315927
• 负责人: Amy Bouton
• 金额: $ 30万
• 依托单位: University of Virginia Main Campus
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-09-01 至 2007-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0315927&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Biological; Functions; Src; Cas; Protein

Whether plants are resistant to pathogens depends on the genetic make-up of both organisms. Pathogens produce effector proteins that manipulate the plant for the pathogen's benefit. Plants produce resistance or R-proteins that recognize effectors and induce defenses that restrict pathogen growth. Recent cloning of genes encoding effectors and R-proteins enables mechanistic study of their interactions by molecular and biochemical methods. This research focuses on Arabidopsis thaliana plants and their bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. These model organisms offer a wealth of tools useful in answering fundamental biological questions, such as: How do pathogens more successfully parasitize plants by using effectors to manipulate them? How do R-proteins enable plants to restrict pathogen growth by recognizing effectors and inducing defense responses? Specifically, this research focuses on a protein of the plant (RIN4) that is targeted by multiple bacterial effectors. One major focus is to determine how targeting of RIN4 by bacterial effectors enhances the virulence (or pathogenicity) of the bacteria. RIN4 also regulates the function of R-proteins that respond to those effectors. A second major focus is to determine how manipulation of RIN4, induced by effector proteins, elicits the activity of R-proteins.This project is important because little is currently known about the interactions between pathogenic effectors and their targets in plants. Fundamental understanding of these interactions will advance understanding of how pathogens cause disease in plants and of how plants resist pathogens. This information will ultimately contribute to the rational design of superior crops by classical breeding efforts or by introduction of transgenes. Understanding these processes at the molecular level will also enable rational design of new chemicals to manage disease in crops. The significance of this research extends beyond the interaction of pathogens with plants. Pathogen encoded effectors similarly manipulate targets in animal hosts, and advances in understanding of effector action in plants will lead to a better fundamental understanding this process in all organisms. Students will be trained to conduct research in this field.

植物是否对病原体具有抵抗力取决于这两种生物的基因构成。病原体产生效应蛋白，这些蛋白质操纵植物以造福于病原体。植物产生抗性或R蛋白，识别效应器并诱导限制病原体生长的防御。最近克隆的编码效应器和R蛋白的基因使人们能够用分子和生物化学的方法来研究它们之间的相互作用。本研究以拟南芥及其病原菌紫丁香假单胞菌为研究对象。这些模式生物提供了大量有用的工具来回答基本的生物学问题，例如：病原体如何通过使用效应器来操纵植物而更成功地寄生植物？R蛋白如何通过识别效应物和诱导防御反应使植物限制病原菌的生长？具体地说，这项研究重点是植物的一种蛋白质(RIN4)，它是多种细菌效应器的靶标。一个主要的焦点是确定细菌效应器靶向RIN4如何增强细菌的毒力(或致病性)。RIN4还调节对这些效应器做出反应的R蛋白的功能。第二个主要焦点是确定由效应蛋白诱导的RIN4的操纵如何引起R-蛋白的活性。这个项目很重要，因为目前对植物中致病效应分子和它们的靶标之间的相互作用知之甚少。对这些相互作用的基本了解将促进对病原体如何在植物中引起疾病以及植物如何抵抗病原体的理解。这些信息最终将有助于通过经典育种努力或通过引入转基因来合理设计优势作物。在分子水平上了解这些过程也将使合理设计新的化学物质来管理作物疾病。这项研究的意义超越了病原体与植物的相互作用。病原体编码的效应器在动物宿主中类似地操纵靶标，而对植物中效应器作用的了解的进展将导致更好地从根本上理解所有生物体的这一过程。学生将接受在这一领域进行研究的培训。