Objective In the immune response, a resistance protein from the host (R) recognizes an avirulent protein from the pathogen (Avr) and elicits a defence response that abrogates the infection attempt. The immune response is generally accompanied by the hypersensitive response (HR), a form of programmed cell death (PCD) that manifests within hours after R/Avr recognition. In a random Virus-Induced-Gene-Silencing (VIGS) screening of a Nicotiana benthamiana cDNA library, I identified several genes that participate in the HR. Among those genes, I characterized in detail a MAPK kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKKa), a positive regulator of cell death in inmunity and susceptibility. I also identified a calcineurin B-like protein (NbCBL) and its target, a CBL-interacting protein kinase (NbCIPK).These results implicate for the first time members of the CBL and CIPK families in biotic stress signalling. As a short-term goal, this project will focus on the characterization of NbCBL and NbCIPK in the immune and susceptible responses to pathogens in Solanaceae and Arabidopsis. For this purpose, I will use functional, biochemical, sub-cellular localization and genetic approaches. I will also investigate if there is a connection between the phosphorylation cascades elicited by CBL-CIPK and MA PKKKa. As a mid-long term goal, I plan to establish an optimised Forward Functional Genomics Screening strategy aimed to the targeted identification of genes that participate in early signalling events in the immune response (between R/Avr and MAPKKKa). Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsmedical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunology Keywords CBL-interacting protein kinase (CIPK) Ca+-mediated signaling Plant functional genomics VIGS calcineurin B-like (CBL) immunity susceptibility Programme(s) FP6-MOBILITY - Human resources and Mobility in the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration "Structuring the European Research Area" under the Sixth Framework Programme 2002-2006 Topic(s) MOBILITY-4.2 - Marie Curie International Reintegration Grants (IRG) Call for proposal FP6-2004-MOBILITY-12 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme IRG - Marie Curie actions-International re-integration grants Coordinator UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA Address C/ san fernando 4 Sevilla Spain See on map Links Website Opens in new window EU contribution € 0,00
