Mechanisms of S receptor kinase signalling in brassica self-incompatibility & related pathways in arabidopsis

通过信号转导感知内部和外部信号是植物生长和生存的关键细胞过程。在植物中，受体激酶是最大的一组用于检测信号的受体，正在成为植物发育、生长和繁殖以及植物与微生物相互作用和病原体防御系统的重要调节因子。这项拨款的重点是研究S结构域受体激酶及其信号通路。并确定这些信号蛋白调控的细胞事件。本研究计划的第一个方面是研究S受体激酶信号通路，并阐明油菜(油菜、花椰菜和甘蓝)自交不亲和花粉识别和拒绝的分子机制。高等植物不能控制哪些花粉落在雌蕊上，但它们具有自交不亲和等机制，有利于异体花粉受精，从而防止近亲繁殖。我的研究小组已经发现了一条调控这一过程的新的信号通路，在这项拨款申请中，建议进行一系列实验，以继续研究这些信号蛋白如何导致自交不亲和花粉的排斥。这项研究计划的第二个方面是研究这种独特的信号通路在植物生长和发育调控中的广泛性。我们将使用功能基因组学方法来定义模式植物拟南芥中相关信号基因家族的新生物学角色。此外，还将研究它们的细胞功能，以揭示可能的信号途径和受这些蛋白质调控的细胞事件。尽管在这一领域取得了令人振奋的进展，但我们的整体知识仍然有限，特别是对受体激酶信号通路的了解很少。因此，这项研究有望为我们理解植物受体激酶的功能及其在调节植物生长发育中的重要性带来新的和重大的进展。

The perception of internal and external signals through signal transduction is a critical cellular process for the growth and survival of plants.  In plants, receptor kinases comprise the largest group of receptors designed to detect signals, and are emerging as important regulators in plant development, growth, and reproduction as well as plant-microbe interactions and pathogen defence systems.  The focus of this grant is to study the S-Domain Receptor kinases and their signalling pathways, and to determine the cellular events regulated by these signalling proteins.  The first aspect of this research program is to study the S Receptor kinase signalling pathway and elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in the recognition and rejection of self-incompatible pollen in Brassica (canola, broccoli, and cabbage).  Plants cannot control which pollen lands on the pistil, but they have mechanisms, such as self-incompatibility, that favour fertilization by non-self pollen, and thus, prevent inbreeding. My research group has identified a novel signalling pathway regulating this process, and in this grant application, a series of experiments are proposed to continue to study how these signalling proteins lead to rejection of self-incompatible pollen.  The second aspect of this research program is to examine how widespread this unique signalling pathway is in the regulation of plant growth and development.  Functional genomics approaches will be used to define novel biological roles for related signalling gene families in the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana.  In addition, their cellular functions will be examined to unravel putative signalling pathways and cellular events regulated by these proteins. While exciting progress is emerging in this area, our overall knowledge is still limited, and in particular, little is known about receptor kinase signalling pathways.  Thus, this research is expected to generate novel and significant advancement into our understanding of how plant receptor kinases function and their importance in regulating plant growth and development.