蛋白激酶RPC在番茄与辣椒疫霉互作中的作用和机理

解析植物与病原菌互作机制可为病害防控奠定基础。申请人先前发现蛋白激酶SIK1通过促进活性氧迸发增强植物免疫，然而，目前对该家族蛋白在植物免疫调控中的功能和作用机制，以及病原菌是否可利用效应子干扰其介导的防卫反应依然知之甚少。我们前期以茄科作物番茄作为材料，发现该家族另一成员RPC在调控植物免疫中发挥作用。与SIK1正调控免疫不同，RPC负调控番茄对辣椒疫霉的抗性。本项目拟以新型免疫调控蛋白RPC为切入点，进一步明确它在番茄与辣椒疫霉互作中的作用，并通过解析其蛋白激酶活性与免疫调控功能之间的联系，以及它与互作蛋白之间的调控关系等阐明RPC调控番茄免疫的机制；在此基础上，分析辣椒疫霉是否可以利用效应子干扰RPC的免疫调控功能，并阐明它们的作用机制。预期研究结果有望揭示植物“防御”病原菌侵染的新机制和病原菌干扰寄主防卫反应的“反防御”机理，为作物病害新型防控策略的开发提供科学依据。

Elucidating the mechanisms of plant-pathogen interactions could lay the foundation for disease control measures. We have previously reported that the protein kinase SIK1 enhances plant immunity by promoting reactive oxygen species production. However, it remains still largely unknown how this protein family modulates plant immunity and whether pathogens produce effectors to interfere with defense response mediated by this protein family. Recently, we showed that RPC, another member of this protein family in the solanaceous crop tomato, plays a role in plant immunity. Unlike SIK1, which positively modulates plant defense response, RPC negatively regulates tomato resistance to Phytophthora capsici. In this project we aim to uncover the role of RPC during tomato-P. capsici interactions, and elucidate the mechanism of this protein kinase in modulating plant immunity by analyzing the relationship between RPC’s protein kinase activity and its immune regulatory function, and clarifying the regulatory relationship between RPC and its interacting proteins. Furthermore, we will also analyze whether P. capsici produces effectors to interfere with the immune regulation function of RPC and uncover their modes of action. The results are expected to reveal new mechanisms for plant-pathogen interactions, which will provide a scientific basis for the development of novel crop disease control strategies.