PLANT-MICROBE

Functional diversification within the microbial NLP protein superfamily

01/01/2023 to 31/12/2026

This project proposes to study members of the microbial protein superfamily of necrosis and ethylene-inducing peptide 1-like proteins (NLPs). Functional diversification within this protein family has occurred as a fraction of these proteins has no cytolytic activity. We aim at demonstrating a physiological role of non-cytolytic NLPs (ncNLPs) in host plant infection and at elucidating the molecular mode of action of these proteins. NcNLP overexpression studies and biochemical binding assays will reveal virulence activities of ncNLPs, the molecular nature of their plant target molecules and insight into the molecular mode of action of ncNLPs.