CRKing the code; A high-throughput exploration of the Cysteine-rich Receptor Kinase family in Arabidopsis

Summary

Plants perceive signals from their environment by using receptor proteins in their cell membranes. They also use Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) as molecules to communicate stress and other internal signalling cues. In this thesis, we aimed to discover how ROS are perceived outside of the plant cells by receptors. To do that, I performed a large in vitro screen between receptor protein pairs and compared them in the presence and absence of ROS for a total of ∼35.000 interactions. These results were further explored using proteomics, phosphoproteomic and physiological approaches in Arabidopsis thaliana plants. As a result of this, we discovered that one receptor, CRK28, influences the speed at which the plant develops, promoting faster aging and a shorter life cycle.