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Cut to the signaling chase: EDS1, a plant immune system “central node,” is attacked by pathogens
Feb 28, 2012
This story focuses on fighting bacteria in plants and crops, which would be incredibly helpful in developing food for the future.
From Bond LSC News
Two mysteries in the world of plant research are closer to being solved, due to the work of Bond Life Sciences Center investigator Walter Gassmann and members of his lab. Inquiry into the plant immune system led these researchers to confirm that a certain protein operates as a “central node” within the immune signaling system, and in the process they have addressed nagging questions about how a plant communicates internally.
“We’ve been stymied for years in our field to understand what is the signaling pathway,” said Gassmann. He is talking about the “pathway” that plant cells use to “signal” in distress when attacked by a disease organism such as a bacterium or fungus, so that its immune system can activate defenses. This is the first mystery.
In recent decades, scientists have deciphered plants’ genetic codes piece-by-piece. Basic biological research on plant immunity has yielded a wealth of understanding as researchers learned how “receptors” within plant cells are able to recognize foreign pathogen proteins and then send out signals that lead to production of defense proteins. More…