Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinases in Plant Defense Signaling

该研究项目的目标是阐明植物中钙依赖蛋白激酶（CDPKs）介导的早期防御信号转导的分子机制。最近的研究发现，在从植物、昆虫到哺乳动物的先天免疫应答中，富含亮氨酸重复序列（LRR）的受体识别病原体相关分子模式（PAMPs）具有显著的保守性。植物细胞似乎拥有许多传感器来检测非自身PAMPs，并启动聚合和特异性防御反应。拟南芥叶细胞系统的基础上诱导早期防御基因表达的不同PAMPs，包括鞭毛蛋白，LPS（脂多糖），harpin（分泌的细菌蛋白），NPP 1（表面真菌坏死诱导疫霉蛋白1）和几丁质（真菌细胞壁成分），将被用来研究植物先天免疫信号。这项新的研究将集中在阐明先天免疫反应中由一组CDPKs控制的信号通路。基于细胞的系统和反向遗传学极大地促进了功能基因组方法的应用，以确定多种CDPKs在由不同病原体引发的会聚和特异性信号传导事件中的确切作用。 该项目将在多学科学术环境中为研究员和本科生/研究生提供极好的培训机会，并为社区服务和支持妇女和少数民族科学家提供综合方案。PAMP信号转导在植物天然免疫应答中的作用机制是植物防御研究的一个新领域。基于拟南芥细胞的系统是最近开发的。一些重大突破的理解植物先天免疫反应将产生通过这个NSF赞助的研究计划。由于PAMP介导的信号传导是一种更普遍和保守的防御机制，因此这项工作可能会创造新的工具，用于在植物中产生对更广泛病原体的更持久的抗病性并改善农业。该项目产生的信息和材料将提供给工厂社区。

The goal of the research project is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying early defense signal transduction mediated by calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) in plants. Recent discoveries have revealed remarkable conservation in the recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) by leucine-rich-repeat (LRR) receptors in innate immune responses from plants, insects, to mammals. Plant cells appear to possess many sensors to detect non-self PAMPs and launch convergent as well as specific defense responses. An Arabidopsis leaf cell system based on the induction of early defense gene expression by diverse PAMPs, including flagellin, LPS (lipopolysaccharide), harpin (a secreted bacterial protein), NPP1 (a surface fungal necrosis-inducing Phytophthora protein 1) and chitin (a fungal cell-wall component), will be used to study innate immune signaling in plants. The new research will focus on the elucidation of signaling pathways controlled by a group of CDPKs in innate immune responses. The cell-based system and reverse genetics greatly facilitate the application of a functional genomic approach to determine the precise roles of multiple CDPKs in convergent and specific signaling events initiated by diverse pathogens. The project will provide excellent training opportunities for research fellows and undergraduate/graduate students in a multidisciplinary academic environment with integrated programs for community services and for supporting woman and minority scientists. The molecular mechanisms mediating PAMP signaling in innate immune response is a very new area in plant defense. The Arabidopsis cell-based system is recently developed. Some major breakthroughs in the understanding of plant innate immune responses will be generated through this NSF-sponsored research program. Because the PAMP-mediated signaling is a more general and conserved defense mechanism, the work may create new tools for the generation of more durable disease resistance to a broader spectrum of pathogens in plants and improve agriculture. Information and materials generated from this project will be available to the plant community.