Teilprojekt B01: Regulation of plasma membrane nanoscale dynamics in plant immune signaling.

01.01.2023 bis 31.12.2026

Plasma membrane (PM) nanoscale dynamics emerges as a regulatory element shaping the outcome of plant-microbe interactions. Recent reports suggest that plants and microbes evolved mechanisms to respectively orchestrate and manipulate the organization of the PM for their own benefit. Indeed, active regulation of the nanoscale organization of the cell surface receptors FLS2 and BAK1 support immune signaling. Oppositely, the quorum sensing signal molecule, diffusible signal factor (DSF), produced by Xanthomonas spp, disturbs PM nanoscale dynamics and inhibits immune signaling. Interestingly, DSF is also detected by the immune system and triggers immune responses. Altogether, this suggests that regulation of PM nanoscale dynamics is part of the evolutionary arms race between plants and microbes. In this project, we propose to leverage the diversity of cell surface receptors, the natural variation in sensitivity to DSF and in DSF structures itself, to i) decipher the spatio-temporal logic underlying the formation of immune receptor complexes, ii) understand the mode of action of DSF and ii) identify counteracting measures employed by plants.