Objective Genomes of higher eukaryotes encode small regulatory RNAs that direct transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene silencing.Two major classes of small RNA occur in plants, microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), with the major difference being their biogenesis pathways. Most small RNAs are generated through a series of maturation steps and incorporated into RNA-induced silencing complexes (RISC), which invariably contains a member of the Argonaute (AGO) protein family. The AGO protein forms the core effector component, while the small RNA functions and serves as a guide to direct RISC to target RNAs through base complementarity.The roles of small RNA during plant pathogenesis have recently come to light. In plants, inducible defence responses are triggered by the recognition of conserved microbial molecules referred to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), via pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). This layer of defence has been termed PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI), which in some cases can be suppressed by successful pathogens that secret effectors that suppress PTI, leading to susceptibility. However, some plant cultivars have evolved resistance proteins to recognise particular effectors, leading to an effector-triggered immunity (ETI).The mechanisms by which pathogens suppress the PTI are of special interest.Bacterial pathogens overcome PTI by delivering effector proteins through the Type III secretion system. In biotrophic and hemi-biotrophic pathogens, secretion of fungal effector proteins involves the formation of haustoria within living plant cells. This proposal will test the new hypothesis that small RNAs (or their precursors), as do effector proteins, can move and function across the plant-pathogen interface. While it is known that transfer of silencing signals occurs between interacting species in different kingdoms, this project will shed light on the functional roles of small RNA transfer during host-pathogen interactions. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencepattern recognitionnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsRNAnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomes Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IOF - Marie Curie Action: "International Outgoing Fellowships for Career Development" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IOF See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IOF - International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF) Coordinator CENTRE DE RECERCA EN AGRIGENOMICA CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB EU contribution € 301 843,80 Address PARC DE RECERCA DE L UAB CAMPUS UAB EDIFICI CRAG BELLATERRA 08193 Cerdanyola Del Valles Spain See on map Region Este Cataluña Barcelona Activity type Other Administrative Contact Juan Antonio Bermejo (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data