Crosstalk between PKA and MAPK signalling during mating in Ustilago maydis

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Michael Feldbrügge
• Subject Area: Plant Genetics and Genomics
• Term: from 2004 to 2008
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5431170

Crosstalk between protein kinase A (PKA) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the corn pathogen Ustilago maydis serves as a model for eukaryotic signalling networks. In this basidiomycete PKA/MAPK crosstalk is crucial for pheromone signalling during mating, which is prerequisite for pathogenic development. Recently, we described a novel mechanism of crosstalk by demonstrating that the activity of the key transcription factor Prf1 is regulated by PKA as well as MAPK phosphorylation. The differential phosphorylation by these kinases enables Prf1 to discriminate various target gene promoters. In the proposed project we wish to answer the question how the activity of Prf1 is regulated by PKA as well as MAPK phosphorylation. In addition, since MAPK signalling is needed for a specific subset of target genes we want to address the hypothesis that a second transciption factor acts in concert with MAPK-phosphorylated Prf1.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants