Plant Microbe

Diversification of the BIR receptor kinase family and its impact on plant health and crop yield

01/01/2023 to 31/12/2026

This project focuses on the regulatory family of BAK1-interacting receptor kinases (BIR). BIRs negatively regulate immune responses by interfering with BAK1 receptor complex formation and are necessary for cell death containment. Both functions are diversifying in an antagonistic manner within the BIR family differentially affecting cell death and immune status. This project aims at the identification of the molecular adaptations made within the BIR family that are determining their receptor interaction strength and their cell death suppressive competence.