Objective Plants have evolved mechanisms to defend themselves. Defence mechanisms are often triggered after the direct or indirect interaction of a disease resistance (R) gene from the plant and an avirulence (Avr) gene from the pathogen. In the absence of the R gene or the Avr gene, disease ensues. Such "gene-for- gene" interactions are known for many different pathogens and plants. R proteins can be divided into five classes based on their structure. The focus of my work will be on the Receptor-like Protein (RLP) class, of which Cf-9 is the founding member.RLPs are membrane-anchored glycoproteins with extra-cytoplasmic Leucine Rich Repeat (LRRs, a protein-protein interaction motif), a transmembrane domain and a short cytoplasmic tail lacking any obvious signalling domain. The Cf-9 protein has 27 LRRs, which are divided in two blocks. Domain Cl comprises 23 LRRs, and the second, domain C3, has 4 LRRs. In between there is a putative "hinge" region, which does not have any LRRs, called domain C2. Sequence alignments of C2 between Cf-9 and Arabidopsis RLPs (AtRLPs) reveal conserved amino acids. Amino-acids surrounding the C2 region are also well conserved.The aim of the proposed project is to:(i) investigate the functional significance of amino acids conserved between Cf-9 and Arabidopsis RLPs, using transient assays of mutated Cf-9 alleles in Nicotiana benthamiana and(ii) to make chimeras of Cf- proteins and Arabidopsis proteins, that can be transiently assessed in transient assays in turnip, to try establish a Cf-9/Avr9 response in Arabidopsis that can be used for genetic studies on Cf-9 signal transduction. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsproteomicsnatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryamines 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-2.1 - Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowships (EIF) Call for proposal FP6-2002-MOBILITY-5 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme IIF - Marie Curie actions-Incoming International Fellowships Coordinator THE SAINSBURY LABORATORY Address Norwich research park, colney Norwich United Kingdom See on map Links Website Opens in new window EU contribution € 0,00
