Cytoskeletal regulation of immunity

植物应对环境威胁的能力--包括非生物和生物胁迫--需要多种细胞遗传过程的作用。其中包括不仅与免疫系统有关的过程，也包括生长、发育、繁殖和衰老所需的过程。在这一点上，植物免疫不是一个狭义的过程，而是一个更广泛的、综合的机制，使用整个细胞(和有机体)来响应病原体感染。这项研究将最终确定植物胁迫信号是如何识别、解码、翻译和传达到整个植物的。由此，我们将深入了解来自外部的信号是如何被感知的，并导致在内部产生遗传编码的反应。该项目使用基于显微镜的技术和生物化学的组合来揭示植物用来防御病原体感染的信号。有了这些知识，研究人员将了解植物如何确定信号是来自朋友还是敌人，并由此确定植物如何调节免疫系统。这项研究的最终目标是揭示植物在病原体感染威胁很高的环境中生存的机制，此外，当环境条件有利于病原体感染时。研究团队还将积极向公众沟通基础研究与农业的联系。为此，参与该项目的科学家，包括密歇根州立大学的健康和营养专家，将与兰辛首都地区图书馆系统合作，在与食物生产和营养相关的主题上教育幼儿及其家人。作为动植物免疫系统监控功能的关键组成部分，肌动蛋白细胞骨架是细胞对各种病原体来源的激发子做出反应所必需的。此外，肌动蛋白的作用正在显现，它包括对细胞过程的协调调节，这些细胞过程发出宿主防御、抗性、易感性和细胞死亡的信号。虽然缺乏确凿的证据表明植物细胞骨架与单个免疫受体直接相互作用，但在哺乳动物系统中确实存在大量数据；这包括病原体识别受体核苷酸结合寡聚化结构域蛋白1(NOD1)的作用，它需要F-肌动蛋白进行正确的PM定位。此外，Nod1和肌动蛋白之间的相互作用(S)作为一个免疫界面影响肌动蛋白的重塑和下游信号的控制，包括肌动蛋白解聚因子cofilin的磷酸化激活。该项目将确定将植物防御的第一线(模式触发免疫)与复杂和普遍的大分子结构--细胞骨架--联系起来，以推动监测。这项拟议的研究将通过描述和定义鲜为人知的病原体识别的细胞结构和编排调节植物中的信号和免疫的机制，为跨真核系统的细胞信号传递提供新的见解。高中生、本科生、研究生和研究生将参与这项拟议的工作，并利用现代生物学取得成功所必需的传统和现代方法，在生物科学方面进行跨学科培训。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The ability of plants to respond to environmental threats – including both abiotic and biotic stress – requires the function of multiple cellular-genetic processes. Among these include processes that are not only associated with the immune system, but those also required for growth, development, reproduction and senescence. In this regard, plant immunity is not a narrowly defined process, but rather, a broader, integrated mechanism that uses the entire cell (and organism) to respond to pathogen infection. This research will ultimately define how plant stress signals are recognized, decoded, translated, and communicated to the whole plant. From this, insight into how signals from the outside are perceived and lead to the generation of genetically-encoded responses, internally, will be gained. The project employs a combination of microscopy-based techniques and biochemistry to uncover the signals that plants use to defend against pathogen infection. With this knowledge, the investigators will learn how plants determine if a signal is from a friend or a foe, and from this, determine how plants regulate the immune system. The ultimate goal of this research is to uncover the mechanisms that plants use to survive in environments where the threat of pathogen infection is high, and moreover, when environmental conditions favor the pathogen. The research team will also actively communicate to the public the link between basic research and agriculture. To do this, the scientists working on this project, including experts in heath and nutrition at Michigan State University will partner with the Lansing Capital Area library system to will educate young children – and their families – on topics related to food production and nutrition.As a key component of the surveillance function of the immune system of both plants and animals, the actin cytoskeleton is required for cellular response to a variety of pathogen-derived elicitors. Additionally, a role for actin is emerging which includes the coordinated regulation of cellular processes that signal host defense, resistance, susceptibility, and cell death. While conclusive evidence demonstrating that the plant cytoskeleton directly interacts with individual immune receptors is lacking, an abundance of data in mammalian systems does exist; this includes a role for the pathogen-recognition receptor nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain protein 1 (NOD1), which requires F-actin for proper PM localization. Further, the interaction(s) between NOD1 and actin serves as an immune interface which influences actin-remodeling and control of downstream signaling, including the phospho-dependent activation of the actin depolymerizing factor cofilin. This project will define the relationships that link the first line of plant defense (pattern-triggered immunity) to a complex and pervasive macromolecular structure – the cytoskeleton – to drive surveillance. The proposed research will contribute new insights in cell signaling across eukaryotic systems through the characterization and definition of the poorly understood mechanism by which cell structure and orchestration of pathogen recognition regulates signaling and immunity in plants. High school, undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students will be involved in the proposed work, and engage in cross-disciplinary training in the biological sciences utilizing traditional and contemporary methods necessary for success in modern biology.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.