Molecular Mechanisms of Plant-Pathogenic Microbe Interaction-Toward Production of Disease Resistant Plants-

研究的目的是阐明以下问题：1)通过信号转导参与植物各种防御反应的分子机制；2)病原微生物与宿主因子之间的相互作用，参与致病性和宿主抗性机制。在研究期间，为青年科学家组织了研究会议、研讨会和专题讨论会，并出版了16份通讯。主要研究结果如下：1)发现病毒RNAi抑制因子活性与病毒基因组复制密切相关。这项研究开创了RNA沉默的一个新方面。2)发现植物的超敏性细胞死亡具有遗传程序性，并提出动物和植物之间存在共同的细胞死亡机制。3)在对病毒感染的防御反应中，SA和JA信号转导之间存在串扰。4)获得了抗马铃薯侵染病菌的转基因马铃薯植株。防御反应被设计成只在病原体攻击植物时表达，而不是在伤口形成时表达。5)细胞壁是第一个触发防御反应的细胞，已分离出相关的关键因素。6) Can-channel在系统性获得性耐药中起关键作用。7)在分子水平上阐明了宿主特异性毒素在易感宿主中的作用机制之一。

Studies are undertaken to elucidate the following ; 1) molecular mechanisms involved in various plant defense responses through the signal transduction, 2) interactions between pathogenic microbes and host factors involved in pathogenicity and host resistance mechanisms. During the studies, research meetings, seminars for the young scientists and symposia were organized and 16 newsletters have been published.Major results are summarized as below : 1) It was found that viral RNAi suppressor activity is closely linked with the virus genome replication. The study pioneered a new aspect of RNA silencing. 2) Hypersensitive cell death of plants was found to be genetically programmed and proposed there are common mechanisms among animals and plants that execute cell death. 3) Cross talk between SA and JA signal transductions are shown during defense response to viral infection. 4) Transgenic potato plant that is resistant to P. infestance was generated. The defense response is engineered to express only when pathogen attacks the plants but not when wound is made. 5) Cell wall was proved to be the first to trigger defense response and critical factors involved have been isolated. 6) Can-channel was shown to play a critical role in systemic acquired resistance. 7) One of molecular mechanisms how a host specific toxin acts in a susceptible host is elucidated at a molecular level.