Regulation of plant receptor kinases in pattern triggered immunity
Plant Immunity
Plant immunity relies on the recognition of surrounding microbes and the induction of robust defense responses to prevent pathogen ingress. Microbe recognition is in part controlled by immune receptors, called pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) which recognize conserved microbial molecules referred to as microbe/pathogen associated molecular patterns (MAMPs or PAMPs).
Our lab is interested in the molecular mechanisms of PRR activation and we use the plant paradigm for a PRR, the well-characterized FLS2 receptor kinase which recognizes flagellin, the main component of bacterial flagellum. We recently discovered that another receptor kinase called BAK1 is a positive regulator and partner for many PRRs, including FLS2. It is surprising because this protein is also involved in activation of the phytohormone receptor BRI1. Our current work aims at understanding the regulation of PRRs by BAK1 at the biochemical level, the repertoire of BAK1-regulated PRRs and more generally the role of BAK1 in plant immunity.
In plants, as well as in animals, the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the innate immune recognition and signalling system represents one of the most exciting challenges in the field of host-microbe interactions.
Research topics
- Molecular plant-microbe interactions
- Cell signalling in plant immunity
- Receptor activation in plants
Interdisciplinary
- Chemical signaling in plants
- Plant responses to microbes
- Protein phosphorylation
