Protein Kinase Signaling and the Development of Motile Phytophthora Spores

真核生物利用蛋白激酶磷酸化细胞靶点，将发育和环境信号传递给细胞靶点。 这项建议的重点是蛋白激酶在马铃薯晚疫病病原体致病疫霉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组的成员。 其中包括许多植物和动物病原体，这些病原体是对作物生产和粮食安全的当前和潜在威胁。 Judelson实验室先前的工作表明，孢子需要蛋白激酶才能正常发挥功能，并确定了在孢子形成和萌发过程中特异性表达的几种激酶。 使用分子和生物化学方法的组合，计划的研究将确定与这些激酶相互作用的蛋白质，包括激酶的调节剂和激酶磷酸化的蛋白质。 选择的激酶和它们的相互作用物在疫霉属生物学中的功能也将通过产生突变体来评估。 孢子对于疫霉属和相关物种是重要的，因为它们是用于传播这些病原体的主要结构，并且因为它们的植物和动物宿主的渗透通常涉及由萌发的孢子形成的特化结构。 因此，了解孢子的生物学应该导致有效和环境安全的预防疾病的策略。 这项研究也将与现有的NSF计划在疫霉基因组学和生物学的协同作用，并有助于在中学后少数民族机构的学生培训。

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.