Regulation of (1,3)-ß-glucan synthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana in response to fungal penetration

• Antragsteller: Dr. Christian Voigt
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Organismische Interaktionen, chemische Ökologie und Mikrobiome pflanzlicher Systeme
• Förderung: Förderung von 2006 bis 2009
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 27993692

The deposition of the linear (1,3)-
-glucan callose is involved in several fundamental processes of the plant development. Particular attention has been focused on formation of callosic papillae (cell wall thickenings of plants) in response to microbial attack. However, the precise function of callose in retarding invasion by pathogens has not been demonstrated unequivocally. The research project is aimed at elucidating mechanisms of inhibition and induction of callose synthesis during fungal penetration. This includes the mechanism of inhibition by unsaturated free fatty acids and the regulation of callose synthase activity by GTPases. Recently, we could demonstrate the potential of free fatty acids in suppression of plant defense in the interaction of the plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum and wheat. A GTPase was suggested as a regulatory subunit of callose synthase for Arabidopsis thaliana at the cell plate. In addition, an A. thaliana mutant showing aberrant callose accumulation may lead to a further regulatory component of callose synthesis by map-based cloning. This work will be done in A. thaliana, one of the best models for research on regulation mechanisms due to the availability of powerful genetic tools, including a complete genome sequence.

• DFG-Verfahren: Forschungsstipendien
• Internationaler Bezug: USA
• Gastgeberin: Professorin Dr. Shauna Somerville