Project description
Protecting plants from within
Microbial diseases are devastating crops across the globe, threatening food security. Plants fight back with a sophisticated two-layered immune system, but how these defences work together is still being uncovered. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the NRG1 phosphorylation project is zeroing in on Arabidopsis thaliana. Specifically, it is studying a key immune protein: N REQUIREMENT GENE 1 (NRG1). Early results suggest NRG1 must be phosphorylated (chemically activated) by surface immune receptors to launch a full internal defence. By unravelling this process, the project aims to reveal how plants coordinate their immune responses. This work promises new strategies for disease-resistant crops and supports the development of expertise in plant immunity and molecular biology.
Objective
Plant diseases caused by microbes result in considerable yield losses in agricultural production systems worldwide, thereby endangering food security. To combat invading microbes, plants have evolved a two-layered innate immune detection system: cell-surface receptor-initiated pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) and intracellular nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat receptor (NLR)-initiated effector-triggered immunity (ETI). Interestingly, cell-surface receptors are required for full NLR-mediated plant immunity. NLRs are classified as sensor NLRs, involved in effector detection, or helper NLRs, required for sensor NLR signalling. Our preliminary data demonstrate that in Arabidopsis thaliana the helper NLR N REQUIREMENT GENE 1 (NRG1) undergoes PTI-dependent phosphorylation, which plays an important role in NRG1-mediated programmed cell death. This suggests that helper NLR phosphorylation may be a crucial checkpoint for PTI/ETI mutual potentiation. This project aims to unravel the molecular mechanisms by which NRG1 is phosphorylated and how its phosphorylation potentiates NLR-initiated immune signalling. My host institute, the Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL), has all the resources to carry out this research. During my work supported by this fellowship, I will be trained in molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, proteomics and bioinformatics, which will lay the foundation for my future career as an independent researcher. In turn, I will bring my specific expertise in phosphorylation-based activation of cell-surface receptor complexes in Nicotiana benthamiana and tomato, which is not currently available in my host lab. The findings of this project will advance the understanding of plant-microbe interactions and should provide new strategies for crop protection and plant breeding. Furthermore, I will be equipped with the skills and experience necessary to position myself as a leading independent researcher.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins proteomics
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
NR47UH Norwich
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.