Working towards a better understanding of plant immune system

致力于更好地了解植物免疫系统

• 批准号: 249922-2012
• 负责人: Zhang, Yuelin
• 金额: $ 4.74万
• 依托单位: University of British Columbia
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2015-01-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=570771
• 关键词: Working; towards; better; understanding; plant

Plants have evolved sophisticated defense mechanisms as a survival strategy to fend off microbial pathogens. Recognition of pathogens by plant immune receptors leads to activation of downstream signaling cascades resulting in resistance to pathogens not only in the infected tissue, but throughout the entire plant. From past research, we have obtained a series of extraordinary mutants with auto-activated resistance responses mediated by three different types of immune receptors. To identify signaling components required for immunity downstream of these receptors, we have designed and carried out genetic screens to search for suppressors of these mutants. We are planning to isolate the suppressor genes using modern molecular genetic approaches, and study in detail the functions of proteins encoded by them. The proposed research efforts will help us better understand how immunity mediated by these immune receptors is regulated. Local resistance responses also activate a secondary defense mechanism in the remote parts of plants termed systemic acquired resistance (SAR). SAR is long lasting and effective against a broad spectrum of pathogens. Using a high-throughput SAR assay we recently developed, we have conducted genetic screens and identified a large number of mutants defective in SAR. We are planning to identify the mutant genes and study the functions of proteins encoded by them, which will help us better understand how SAR is established and regulated. Our research is crucial for advancing our knowledge of how plant immunity is regulated. New regulators and signaling pathways involved in plant defense responses will be discovered. The knowledge obtained will contribute to the development of new strategies to better manage plant disease problems not only in Canada, but around the world.

植物已经进化出复杂的防御机制作为抵御微生物病原体的生存策略。植物免疫受体对病原体的识别导致下游信号级联的激活，从而不仅在受感染的组织中，而且在整个植物中产生对病原体的抗性。从过去的研究中，我们已经获得了一系列具有由三种不同类型的免疫受体介导的自激活抗性反应的非凡突变体。为了确定这些受体下游免疫所需的信号传导成分，我们设计并进行了遗传筛选，以寻找这些突变体的抑制因子。我们计划利用现代分子遗传学方法分离抑制基因，并详细研究它们编码的蛋白质的功能。拟议的研究工作将帮助我们更好地了解这些免疫受体介导的免疫是如何调节的。 局部抗性反应还激活了植物偏远部位的二级防御机制，称为系统获得性抗性（SAR）。SAR对广谱病原体具有持久有效性。使用我们最近开发的高通量SAR检测，我们进行了遗传筛选，并确定了大量的突变体SAR缺陷。我们计划识别突变基因并研究它们编码的蛋白质的功能，这将帮助我们更好地了解SAR是如何建立和调节的。 我们的研究对于推进我们对植物免疫如何调节的认识至关重要。将发现新的调节剂和参与植物防御反应的信号通路。所获得的知识将有助于制定新的战略，以更好地管理植物病害问题，不仅在加拿大，但在世界各地。