Fuctional characterization of secreted effector proteins from Colletotrichum higginsianum

• Antragstellerin: Professorin Dr. Jane E. Parker, seit 2/2012
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Organismische Interaktionen, chemische Ökologie und Mikrobiome pflanzlicher Systeme
• Förderung: Förderung von 2007 bis 2014
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 38929249

The hemibiotrophic anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum higginsianum initially invades living epidermal cells of Arabidopsis thaliana to form specialized hyphae resembling haustoria, before later entering a destructive necrotrophic phase. The pathosystem provides a convenient model for molecular analysis of biotrophy because, unlike obligate biotrophs, Colletotrichum can be readily cultured in vitro and genetically transformed. Effector proteins secreted by appressoria, penetration pegs and intracellular hyphae are likely to play key roles in establishing biotrophy, by evading or disabling pre- and post-penetration defenses, maintaining host viability and remodelling the host cytoplasm. We have previously used computational approaches to mine the transcriptomes of these specialized fungal cell types to identify genes encoding candidate effectors. The proposed research aims to elucidate effector functions by localizing proteins in infected plants and by determining their contribution to pathogen virulence and their ability to suppress plant cell death and plant immune responses and by the identification of plant target proteins. These studies are expected to uncover novel genes required for fungal manipulation of host plants and may provide new insights into both the molecular basis of biotrophy and plant immunity.

• DFG-Verfahren: Schwerpunktprogramme
• Teilprojekt zu: SPP 1212: Microbial reprogramming of plant cell development
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Dr. Richard O`Connell, bis 2/2012