Plant signaling networks

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Plant cells need to constantly monitor changes both in the greater environment and in their neighbouring cells. Based on this information, the cells (and ultimately the entire plant) are able to adjust their physiological status and resource allocation to maximize the chances of survival for the organism/species. This information exchange and re-direction is managed through an elaborate network of signaling proteins and their substrates in the cell, many of which are protein kinases.  One subgroup of the kinases (MAP kinases) has been operating at the core of eukaryotic cell signaling for hundreds of millions of years, and is well-represented in plants, but the specific biological roles played by each of the plant MAPkinases remain largely unknown.  This project will systematically dissect those signaling pathways in plant cells that depend on MAPkinases, and determine which combination of these kinases has evolved to assist plants to survive and thrive in a hostile environment. The work will be conducted in the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, whose genome has been fully sequenced and for which extensive genetic resources are available, since this enables the most rapid progress to be made.  However, the knowledge developed through this project will be readily extrapolated to other species such as crops and trees, where it will provide important new insights into disease susceptibility and tolerance to environmental stresses (ozone, UV-B, cold and drought). It will also help illuminate the decision pathways through which photosynthetic resources are devoted to plant-specific growth and development patterns, such as flowering and root branching.