Characterization of PEROXIDASE5 as a novel regulator of plant growth-defense responses via differential microbiota-dependent interference with ROS homeostasis

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Paul Schulze-Lefert, since 1/2024
• Subject Area: Organismic Interactions, Chemical Ecology and Microbiomes of Plant Systems
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 466329325

Root microbiota is known to modulate plant growth, defense and stress responses. However, the underlying microbiota-responsive host regulators remain elusive. Previous mono-association study, using Arabidopsis root-derived bacteria culture collection (At-R-sphere), facilitated the differentiation of root commensals into two groups of bacteria showing contrasting capacities to suppress root immune responses. Root transcriptome experiments narrowed down immunity-related genes to gene clusters exhibiting differential responses to synthetic communities (SynComs) comprised of these two groups of bacteria. Using a comparative transcriptomics approach, I further identified a novel regulator, PEROXIDASE 5 (PER5), that is required for immunity-triggered growth inhibition. PER5 is an uncharacterized peroxidase with a predicted function to regulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis. ROS-dependent signaling is implicated in multiple biological processes including crosstalks with immunity and abiotic stress responses. I propose to perform biochemical and reconstitution experiments to study the impacts of microbiota on plant growth-defense crosstalk and abiotic stress tolerance through indirect interference with ROS homeostasis.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 2125: Deconstruction and Reconstruction of the Plant Microbiota "DECRyPT"
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Ka-Wai Ma, Ph.D., until 12/2023