Plant Receptor-like Kinases in ROS Signaling (PROSIG)

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Silke Robatzek
• Subject Area: Plant Physiology
• Term: from 2009 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 105783258

Receptor-like/Pelle kinases (RLKs) are important components of many signaling networks in plants. RLKs control plant development and hormone responses, stomatal regulation, stress responses as well as defense against bacterial and fungal pathogens. The same RLK, like the ERECTA, BRI1 and SERK3 (BAK1), can function in development and in pathogen resistance or susceptibility to stress. The existence of transient and dynamic multireceptor signaling complexes consisting of main ligand-binding receptors and non-ligand-binding co-receptors can help to explain the observed multiple intersections between plant signaling pathways. The main objective of this project is therefore to determine how single RLKs discriminate diverse functions and supply specificity in stress signaling. To achieve this we aim to characterize multiple signaling networks involving RLKs involved in stress response and development in Arabidopsis and Barley by the integrated use of genomic, biochemical, molecular and genetic approaches. Investigating crossover between stress and developmental signaling is likely to yield new insights into the interactions the different pathways. Work will focus on selected members of the RLKs of group LRRII (total 14 members including the SERK family), group LRRXI (total 28 members including Clavata1), group LRRXII (total 10 members including FLS2 and EFR), the DUF26 group (total 35 members including the Cystein-rich kinases [CRK]) and the SLG (Self-incompatibility glycoprotein) group (total 31 members) with the following objectives:1) to determine the role of RLKs in ROS-mediated cellular and systemic signaling in biotic and abiotic stresses in Arabidopsis using existing and novel mutant collections and in barley using a novel antisense oligodeoxynucleotide technology, ODN (1) combined with genomic aproaches.2) to determine which RLKs involved in stress responses have a function in development3) analysis of multi-receptor signaling complex formation by competition FRET methodology, and development and optimization of FRET technology for in planta visualization of receptor interactions and activation. (proof of principle for construction of phosphorylation FRET biosensor).4) to identify the composition of the multiprotein RLK downstream signaling networks involved in ROS- and brassinosteroid-mediated signaling by genomic, biochemical and molecular biological approaches.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, United Kingdom
• Participating Persons: Dr. Jan Willem Borst; Professor Dr. David B. Collinge; Professor Dr. Jaakko S. Kangasjärvi (†)