Protein Kinase Signaling and the Development of Motile Phytophthora Spores

真核生物利用蛋白激酶对细胞靶标进行磷酸化，将发育和环境信号传递给细胞靶标。本研究的重点是蛋白激酶在马铃薯晚疫病菌孢子生物学中的作用。本种是被称为卵菌的微生物真核生物群中的一员。其中包括许多植物和动物病原体，它们是当前和潜在的对作物生产和粮食安全的威胁。Judelson实验室之前的工作表明，孢子需要蛋白激酶才能正常发挥作用，并发现了几种在孢子形成和萌发过程中特异表达的激酶。利用分子和生物化学方法的结合，计划的研究将识别与这些激酶相互作用的蛋白质，包括这些激酶的调节因子和被这些激酶磷酸化的蛋白质。还将通过制造突变株来评估选定的激酶及其在疫霉生物学中的相互作用的功能。孢子对疫霉和相关物种很重要，因为它们是传播病原体的主要结构，而且它们对动植物宿主的渗透通常涉及由萌发的孢子形成的特殊结构。因此，了解孢子的生物学应该有助于制定有效的、对环境安全的预防疾病的战略。这项研究还将与现有的国家科学基金会在疫霉基因组学和生物学方面的倡议相协同，并为高等教育少数民族研究所的学生培训做出贡献。

The phosphorylation of cellular targets by protein kinases is used by eukaryotes to transmit developmental and environmental signals to cellular targets. This proposal focuses on the role of protein kinases in the biology of the spores of Phytophthora infestans, the potato late blight pathogen. This species is a member of the group of microbial eukaryotes known as oomycetes. These include many plant and animal pathogens that are current and potential threats to crop production and food security. Prior work by the Judelson laboratory showed that spores require protein kinases to function normally, and identified several kinases expressed specifically during spore formation and germination. Using a combination of molecular and biochemical approaches, the research planned will identify proteins that interact with these kinases, including both regulators of the kinases and proteins phosphorylated by the kinases. The functions of selected kinases and their interactors in the biology of Phytophthora will also be assessed by making mutants. Spores are important to Phytophthora and related species since they are the main structures used to disseminate such pathogens, and since penetration of their plant and animal hosts usually involves specialized structures formed by germinated spores. Understanding the biology of spores should therefore lead to effective and environmentally safe strategies for preventing disease. This research will also be synergistic with existing NSF initiatives in Phytophthora genomics and biology, and contribute to student training at a Postsecondary Minority Institution.