Coppinger Laboratory
Research
The molecular mechanisms of plant
pathogenesis reveal an ancient saga of stealth, betrayal, and
deceit. The evolution of pathogen virulence has yielded a vast
arsenal of biochemical weapons, molecular syringes, and molecular
mimics. In a classic arms race, the evolution of plant resistance
has resulted in a complicated network of biochemical surveillance
monitors, molecular alarms, and programmed cell suicide. Unlike
animals, which have evolved an elaborate immune system for recognizing
general pathogen invasion, plants have developed an extensive
surveillance system that can recognize specific pathogen gene
products. In this so-called "gene-for-gene" resistance, the
products of specific plant-derived genes recognize the products of
specific pathogen genes and signal downstream defense responses in the
plant.
NDR1 (non-race specific
disease resistance) is a gene in Arabidopsis
thaliana that is required for disease resistance. Plants
that lack a functional copy of NDR1 are susceptible to a range of
pathogens. Despite the crucial role of NDR1 in disease resistance, little
is known about its molecular function. We have recent evidence
that NDR1 exists in a complex with other disease resistance proteins at
the plasma membrane. The composition of this protein complex, as
well as its dynamics during infection, is not yet known. Thus,
the goal of my research is to understand the role of NDR1 in disease resistance,
including its interaction with plant and pathogen proteins during
infection.
Potential research projects include the use of fluorescent microscopy
to observe changes in protein localization during infection, mutant
screens to identify novel genes involved in disease resistance, and
site-directed mutagenesis to identify functional domains in
resistance-related proteins. In terms of undergraduate research
experience, these sets of experiments will provide an excellent
opportunity to learn advanced cellular and molecular laboratory
techniques, such as fluorescent microscopy, mutant analysis, cloning,
sequencing, protein analysis, and computer-based bioinformatics.
The knowledge gained from this research, including the cloning and
characterization of novel disease resistance genes, will help elucidate
the molecular basis of disease resistance and contribute to the general
understanding of the biochemical signaling events involved in
resistance pathways.
