Seminar: Regulation of plant cell-to-cell communication
Date/Time: | Tuesday, 24 Sep 2024 from 1:00 pm to 1:50 pm |
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Location: | 1414 Molecular Biology |
Cost: | Free |
Contact: | Danise Jones |
Phone: | 515-294-2687 |
Channel: | Research |
Categories: | Lectures |
Actions: | Download iCal/vCal | Email Reminder |
Synopsis: Plasmodesmata provide physical connections between adjacent cells, facilitating the exchange of signaling molecules and nutrients in plants. Despite their fundamental role, the function and regulation of plasmodesmata remain understudied. Our lab focuses on understanding the regulation of plasmodesmata during plant growth and defense. We have shown that the pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae manipulates plant cell-to-cell communication systems to promote disease in Arabidopsis. This study led to the identification of PLASMODESMATA-LOCATED PROTEINS (PDLPs) as key regulators of plasmodesmal function during plant immunity. Recently, we demonstrated that different PDLP members are expressed in and function at specific cell types, regulating plasmodesmata at particular cell-cell interfaces. Additionally, we showed that PDLPs play a role in regulating plant growth. To further investigate the molecular function of PDLPs, we identified functional partners of PDLP5. Notably, we discovered several proteins involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, sensing, transport, and sequestration as partners of PDLP5. ROS, including hydrogen peroxide, mediate communication between cells and tissues, influencing plant growth and defense. Our current projects aim to demonstrate that PDLP5 and plasmodesmata form ROS signaling hubs that regulate cell-to-cell communication, thereby maintaining plant growth and defense responses. I will present two major ongoing projects: (1) the role of PDLP5 in negatively regulating hydrogen peroxide transport and (2) the function of a plasmodesmata-associated hydrogen peroxide sensor in positively regulating hydrogen peroxide transport. Our work will address a significant gap in understanding ROS signaling hubs at plasmodesmata.