Signaling of reactive oxylipins in plants

• Applicant: Privatdozentin Dr. Susanne Berger
• Subject Area: Plant Physiology
• Term: from 2018 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 401023547

Biotic and abiotic stresses result in an accumulation of oxylipins in plants. The oxylipin 12-oxophytodienoic acid belongs to the group of reactive electrophile species (RES). Several stresses and application of plant as well as non-plant RES-oxylipins activate defense and detoxification mechanisms. However, little is known about the signaling pathway which mediates these responses. In the proposed project a forward genetic approach will be used to identify components of this new signaling pathway. Mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana were isolated, which show an altered response to RES-oxylipins. The elucidation of the mutated gene will lead to the identification of signal transduction factors, which are involved in the response to RES-oxylipins. It is expected that these signaling factors also mediate the effects of a variety of structurally diverse RES-oxylipins. The identified signaling proteins and mutants will be used to explore the role of endogenous RES in stress responses with functional genetic approaches.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants