Award details

Recognition

Reference	BBS/E/J/000PR9795
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Mark Banfield
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Dr Sanu Arora, Professor Saskia Hogenhout, Professor Jonathan Jones, Professor Sophien Kamoun, Professor Richard Morris, Dr Matthew Moscou, Professor Nicholas Talbot
Institution	John Innes Centre
Department	John Innes Centre Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	4,710,463
Status	Current
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/2017
End date	31/03/2023
Duration	59 months

Abstract

Plants’ perception of molecular signatures from beneficial or pathogenic microbes and pests is critical for the establishment of symbioses or initiation of immunity. Typically, these molecular signatures are sensed by receptors at either the cell surface (PRRs) or inside cells (NLRs). Diverse microbial or pest-derived molecules can be recognised, including complex oligosaccharides, nucleotides, peptides, and proteins. Some recognition events involve direct interactions between microbial or pest molecules and plant receptors. However, indirect interactions also occur and receptors can detect changes in host molecular complexes, or the activity of a microbial molecule on host factors. To discover components involved in perception, we will investigate the genetic and molecular basis of recognition. In addition, we will use synthetic biology approaches to develop new capabilities in nature’s toolkit. Screening diverse germplasm, or preparing diverse receptor libraries, coupled with gene editing technologies (e.g. CRISPR) to introduce and test candidate genes in target plants, is critical for identifying or expanding plant recognition repertoires both at the cell surface and inside cells. The expansion in the number of genes encoding potential cell surface PRRs in plant genomes suggests we currently underestimate the full complement of recognition specificities in the plant kingdom. Discovery and functional characterisation of these specificities will further our understanding of how plants and microbes communicate with each other at the cell surface. Natural variation in wild populations, and in close and distant crop relatives, provides a rich diversity of sources for developing as-yet unexploited resistance for crops. Although the molecular mechanisms of non-host resistance, a form of asymptomatic immunity often deployed in crop breeding, are still poorly understood, both PRR and NLR receptors are likely to contribute. An emerging but critical question is to understand how levels and localisation of PRR and NLR receptors are controlled, and how they are organised in complexes competent for the perception of microbial- or pest-derived signals.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	Plant Science
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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