Role of the COP9 Signalosome and its Subunit CSN5 in the Regulation of MAPK Pathways and Defense Responses in Tomato.

植物受到许多环境胁迫信号的影响。一般来说，他们有有效的自卫和保护策略。然而，当植物同时受到多种胁迫时，这种效率可能会受到损害。植物在受到昆虫攻击时不能有效地防御某些病原体，反之亦然。研究人员已经证明，CSN5蛋白作为分子开关的一部分起作用，决定是否会激活对昆虫或病原体的防御反应。该机制的另一个组成部分是MAP激酶（MAPK）信号传导途径，其传递由昆虫和病原体产生的信号。该项目将采用分子生物化学方法来分析CSN5如何通过与MAPK通路的相互作用来调节防御反应。这将揭示机制，？决定？什么样的防御反应会被激活CSN5在植物防御反应中起着重要作用。这一发现是新颖的，该研究项目旨在确定导致抗害虫的胁迫信号转导的新机制。更广泛的影响。拟议研究的结果有可能为产生多重胁迫抗性作物提供新的策略，但也将提出有关操纵信号网络的警告，这些信号网络可能会增加对一种害虫的抗性，但会降低对另一种害虫的抗性。该项目将为博士后研究助理、研究生和本科生提供植物分子生物学培训机会。调查员还将继续从代表性不足的群体中招募学生，并为高中生提供研究机会。

Plants are exposed to many environmental stress signals. Generally they have efficient strategies for self-defense and protection. However, this efficiency may be compromised when plants are exposed to multiple stresses at the same time. Plants are not able to defend themselves effectively against certain pathogens while being attacked by insects and vice versa. The investigator has shown that the CSN5 protein operates as part of a molecular switch that determines whether defense responses to insects or pathogens will be activated. Another component of this mechanism is a MAP kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway that relays signals generated by insects and pathogens. This project will employ a molecular-biochemical approach to analyze how CSN5 regulates defense responses through interactions with MAPK pathways. This will uncover mechanisms that ?decide? what kind of defense responses will be activated. CSN5 plays a fundamental role for plant defense responses. This discovery is novel and this research project is aimed at identifying novel mechanisms of stress signal transduction which result in resistance to pests. Broader impacts. The outcome of the proposed research has the potential to provide novel strategies for generating multistress-resistant crop plants, but will also raise caveats regarding manipulation of signaling networks which may increase resistance to one pest but decrease resistance to another. The project will provide training opportunities in plant molecular biology for a postdoctoral research associate, graduate and undergraduate students. The investigator will also continue to recruit students from underrepresented groups and provide research opportunities for high school students.