Functional analysis of Symbiosis Receptor Kinase (SYMRK) mediated signal perception

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The symbiosis receptor kinase (SYMRK) is required for successful symbiotic interactions between plants and AM fungi, between actinorhiza hosts and Frankia bacteria and between legumes and rhizobia. SYMRK is a membrane bound receptor-like kinase (RLK) with 3 leucine-rich repeat motifs in the extracellular domain and an intracellular protein kinase domain. This project addresses the question how SYMRK mediates developmental reprogramming of plant cells in response to endosymbiotic microorganisms such as arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi or nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. During the first funding period we have established important tools for the biochemical and microscopical detection of SYMRK in planta and identified endogenous proteins interacting with SYMRK. We will now analyse their functional relevance using reverse genetics. Moreover we aim to discern the subcellular and tissue localization of SYMRK complexes and how symbiotic signalling molecules and/or interactome components influence the spatiotemporal dynamics of SYMRK. We expect this project to provide novel insights into symbiotic signalling mechanisms and plant receptor kinase function in general.