Receptor-mediated cell-cell communication and the regulation of organ size in plants: functional analysis of signaling mediated by the lecine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase SRF4 in Arabidopsis thaliana

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Plant cells must repeatedly communicate with each other to allow an organ to grow to its proper size. Little is known, however, about the underlying mechanisms of cell-cell communication. This project provides the basis for a long-term exploration of a novel receptor kinase-dependent signal transduction pathway that plays in important role in the control of organ size in Arabidopsis thaliana. It will thus enhance our knowledge about the mechanisms of organ size control in particular and receptor-mediated signal transduction in plants in general. The grant proposal is based on results from our previous work on the gene family encoding the LRR-V/SRF family of leucine-rich repeat receptorlike kinases in Arabidopsis. Genetic analysis indicated that onea member, SRF4, is a direct positive regulator of organ size, in particular of cotyledons, leaves and seeds. Thus, SRF4 defines a novel receptor kinase-based signal transduction pathway of general importance for organogenesis. Research will be based on methods of reverse genetics, cellular and molecular biology, and biochemistry. The major focus will reside on the investigation of the biological and molecular function of SRF4, on an analysis of already identified putative interacting proteins, and on the discovery of genes whose activity is responsive to SRF4 signaling.