Background

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are produced in intra- and extra-cellular compartments as response for any biotic and abiotic stresses. ROS also act as signal molecules in development and defence, however, the mechanisms and receptors by which extracellular ROS signals are perceived and integrated are still unclear. 

We propose that Cysteine-Rich Receptor-Like Kinases (CRKs), a family of Receptor Kinases (RKs) in Arabidopsis, can serve as extracellular ROS sensors. We propose that ROS modulate interactions between CRKs and Leucine-Rich Repeat Receptor Kinases (LRR-RKs) reflecting the redox state of the apoplast. We aim to elucidate how RKs signalling networks are modulated by ROS, and how this orchestrates responses to stresses by creating proteome-wide networks of interactions among extracellular domains (ECDs) of RKs in vitro. 

Aim of the project

1. Establish redox-dependent extracellular interaction maps of the CRK and LRR-RK families in Arabidopsis The first part of the project will consist of building a Redox-dependent Interaction Network between the ECDs of LRR-RKs and CRKs of Arabidopsis using large-scale interactome screen in different redox conditions (Smakowska-Luzan et al., 2018). Together with redox proteomic studies where presence of different oxidative modification will be assessed we will be able to form a list of redox-regulated interactions.
2. Assign a biological relevance to the redox-dependent CRKs interactions Redox-dependent interactions will be selected for further in-depth functional characterization using biochemical, molecular and cell biology approaches.