PAD4 signaling networks in plant-microbe interaction

Plants are always exposed to and attacked by pathogenic microbes in natural environment. Phytoalexin deficient 4 (PAD4) plays an important role in plant defense to pathogens. PAD4, EDS1 and SAG101 form a specific family containing lipase domain at N-termini. PAD4 interacts with EDS1, but not SAG101 to form heterologous complex. Recently, we demonstrated tha PAD4 interacts with SAG101 via EDS1 and that the PAD4-EDS1-SAG101 ternary complex is present in the nucleus. Our results suggest that EDS1, PAD4, SAG101 function independently as well as in a ternary complex to mediate plant defense signaling. So far, PAD4 has been shown to be required for resistance against viral pathogens, green peach aphid and nematode. In order to investigate the role of PAD4 in plant defense signaling, we set out to identify PAD4 interactants by using PAD4 as a bait protein against a library of prey proteins in model species Arabidopsis. We are hoping to find PAD4 interactant(s) and characterize downstream signaling components.

Faculty Supervisor:

Daniel Matton

Student:

Partner:

Nankai University

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

Université de Montréal

Program: