- Results as:
- Print view
- Endnote (RIS)
- BibTeX
- Table: CSV | HTML
Publications
Publications
Research Mission and Profile
Molecular Signal Processing
Bioorganic Chemistry
Biochemistry of Plant Interactions
Cell and Metabolic Biology
Independent Junior Research Groups
Program Center MetaCom
Publications
Good Scientific Practice
Research Funding
Networks and Collaborative Projects
Symposia and Colloquia
Alumni Research Groups
Publications
Innate immunity, an ancient form of defense against microbial infection, is well described for animals and is also suggested to be important for plants. Discrimination from self is achieved through receptors that recognize pathogen‐associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) not found in the host. PAMPs are evolutionarily conserved structures which are functionally important and, thus, not subject to frequent mutation. Here we report that the previously described peptide elicitor of defense responses in parsley, Pep‐13, constitutes a surface‐exposed fragment within a novel calcium‐dependent cell wall transglutaminase (TGase) from Phytophthora sojae . TGase transcripts and TGase activity are detectable in all Phytophthora species analyzed, among which are some of the most destructive plant pathogens. Mutational analysis within Pep‐13 identified the same amino acids indispensable for both TGase and defense‐eliciting activity. Pep‐13, conserved among Phytophthora TGases, activates defense in parsley and potato, suggesting its function as a genus‐specific recognition determinant for the activation of plant defense in host and non‐host plants. In summary, plants may recognize PAMPs with characteristics resembling those known to trigger innate immune responses in animals.
Publications
Plant stress adaptation often uses changes in cytosolic Ca2+ to bring about responses via changing the activity of Ca2+-sensor proteins including Ca2+-dependent protein kinases (CDPK). The activity of a tobacco CDPK(s) is essential for elicitation of the hypersensitive reaction, a typical plant defence response. Moreover, it is becoming apparent that CDPKs might also facilitate cross-talk between different Ca2+-mediated stress signalling pathways.