Peptide Signaling for Plant Defense

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The objectives of this research are to investigate the properties of novel peptidedefense signals discovered in tomato and Arabidopsis plants that have important rolesin amplifying the defense systems of the plants to strengthen the resistances againstpathogens and insect pests. Until the discovery of the defense peptide called systeminin tomato leaves in 1991 by Ryan and colleagues, no peptide signals were known to becomponents of plant signaling. Over 20 peptide signals are now known that regulateboth defense and development. A novel, rapid, and simple assay has been developedin the Ryan laboratory that can identify new peptide signals in plant extracts. Thisassay has allowed the discovery of several new peptide signals for both plant defenseand development including a peptide called AtPep1 that enhances the innate immuneresponses of the plants against pathogens. The gene encoding the peptide is amember of a gene family that is found in species throughout the plant kingdom.Biochemical, molecular, and genetic approaches will be carried out to understand therole of peptide signals using tomato and Arabidopsis plants as model systems. Thelocalization of the peptides and their precursor genes in plants will be studied, and howthe peptides are produced from precursor proteins and perceived by plant cells toactivate defensive genes in response to herbivores and/or pathogen attacks will beinvestigated. The peptides that enhance plant defense responses have provided newinsights toward an understanding of innate immunity in plants, which are the earliestresponses of plants in response to most attacking organisms. The knowledge gainedwill contribute to the framework of the basic principles that govern peptide signaling inthe plant kingdom. Such information will contribute to an understanding of defensepeptide signaling in both plants and animals, and will be especially useful in breedingand biotechnological approaches to enhance yields in major agricultural crops. A majorcomponent of this grant is to train undergraduate and graduate students as well aspostdoctoral fellows and visiting scientists in fundamentals research that can be appliedto agriculture and human health. The PI's successful ongoing efforts to bring women and minorities into my laboratory will continue through the tenure of this project.