Delineating the Roles of Dynamin-Related Proteins DRP2A and DRP2B in Regulating Plant Innate Immune Responses against Bacteria

高等生物已经发展出有效的机制来保护自己免受微生物的感染。宿主的防御反应必须受到严格的监管：如果宿主无法诱导防御，微生物就会抓住它们。如果反应被持续激活，宿主细胞将宝贵的资源从生长转移到防御上，导致宿主生长受到惩罚。一些真核细胞使用配体诱导的内吞作用作为下调细胞表面受体浓度的一种手段，以使细胞对刺激脱敏并减弱信号反应。在这个项目中，研究人员使用Fls2/鞭毛蛋白系统来描述内吞作用在调节针对细菌的免疫中的作用。鞭毛蛋白敏感2(Flagellin Sensitive 2，FLS2)是植物细胞表面的受体，感知细菌鞭毛蛋白启动防御信号。Fls2是已知的唯一经历配体诱导的内吞作用的植物免疫受体。然而，Fls2内吞作用在调节反应和免疫中的作用尚不清楚。这位研究人员已经确定囊泡运输蛋白Dynamin相关蛋白DRP2A和DRP2B是对紫丁香假单胞菌基础抗性的新的正向调节因子。在这个项目中，研究人员结合使用生化、活细胞成像、蛋白质组学、病理学和遗传学的方法来研究DRP2s在调节防御信号、Fls2内吞作用和抗细菌免疫方面的作用。除了加强对DRP2在细胞过程中的功能的了解外，该项目还可能导致新的策略，以增强植物的天然免疫力，并有助于改善食物、纤维和生物燃料的生产。该项目还为博士后研究员、研究生和本科生提供培训机会。此外，研究人员小组通过开发和向K-5小学生提供动手生物实验来参与外展工作。本科生和小学生将学习收集、分析和解释数据。社会将受益于具有科学素养的公民，这些公民的智力背景对他们在日常生活中对科学应用做出明智的决定至关重要。

Higher organisms have developed effective mechanisms to protect themselves against microbial infection. Host defense responses must be tightly regulated: if hosts are unable to induce defenses, microbes take hold of them. If responses are continuously activated, host cells divert valuable resources from growth to defense resulting in host growth penalty. Some eukaryotic cells use ligand-induced endocytosis as a means for down-regulating receptor concentration from the cell surface to desensitize cells to stimuli and attenuate signaling responses. In this project, the investigator uses the FLS2/flagellin system to delineate roles of endocytosis in regulating immunity against bacteria. FLAGELLIN SENSITIVE 2 (FLS2) is the plant cell surface receptor that perceives bacterial flagellin to initiate defense signaling. FLS2 is the only plant immune receptor known to undergo ligand-induced endocytosis. Roles of FLS2 endocytosis in regulating responses and immunity, however, remain unknown. The investigator has identified the vesicular trafficking proteins Dynamin-Related Protein DRP2A and DRP2B as novel positive regulators of basal resistance against the bacteria Pseudomonas syringae. In this project, the investigator uses a combination of biochemical, live-cell imaging, proteomics, pathology and genetics approaches to address roles of DRP2s in regulating defense signaling, FLS2 endocytosis and immunity against bacteria. In addition to enhancing the knowledge of DRP2 functions in cellular processes, this project could lead to novel strategies for enhancing innate immunity in plants and contributing to improved food, fiber, and biofuel production. The project also provides training opportunities for a postdoctoral researcher, graduate and undergraduate students. Furthermore, the investigator's group participates in outreach efforts by developing and presenting hands-on biological experiments to K-5 elementary school students. Undergraduate and elementary students will learn to gather, analyze, and interpret data. Society will profit from scientifically literate citizens with intellectual background crucial in making educated decisions about applications for science in their everyday lives.