SUMOylation at the crosstalk between development and defense response

Abstract

This project proposes to evaluate the role of SUMOylation in plants in the integration of the response in the development and defense against pathogens. For this, possible SUMO substrates were identified and validated in Arabidopsis, with a role in development and defense, through an assay based on the reconstitution of the SUMOylation machinery in E. coli. The molecular effect of SUMOylation of these substrates was identified by transient expression assays and the generation of transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing selected SUMO substrates in their native, SUMOylation-deficient form. Functional analyzes of SUMOylation on proteins identified as substrates in relation to their ability to regulate development and defense processes in Arabidopsis were also performed. Comparative studies of susceptibility-resistance to infection to the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea were carried out, as well as various studies under abiotic stress conditions.

Date of Award	9 Feb 2023
Original language	English
Supervisor	Luisa Maria Lois Rojas (Director) & Roser Tolra Perez (Director)