CSB Seminar: Prof. Timothy Devarenne, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

“Cell Death Control and Hormonal Signaling during the Defense Response of Tomato to Bacterial Pathogen Pseudomonas syringae“

Host:  Prof. Keiko Yoshioka <keiko.yoshioka@utoronto.ca>

Abstract:
The Devarenne lab is interested in studying the molecular mechanisms used by plants to defend against the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. Specifically, we study how tomato plants control cell death as a defense mechanism against P. syringae. During plant resistance to pathogens induction of host cell death is used to kill pathogen cells and reduce pathogen spread throughout the host. We have shown the tomato protein kinase Adi3 to be a suppressor of cell death in the absence of pathogen, and functions to control induction the cell death needed during resistance to P. syringae. Results will be presented summarizing these studies. Additionally, the Devarenne lab is studying how the perception of P. syringae controls hormone signaling needed for induction of tomato defense mechanisms. It is known that the hormone salicylic acid (SA) is needed for induced defense gene expression in response to P. syringae, and this response can be inhibited by the hormone jasmonic acid (JA) leading to reduced resistance to P. syringae. Thus, JA signaling is inhibited during defense against P. syringae in order to maximize SA-mediated defenses. We are studying a new angle on the inhibition JA signaling by analyzing the inhibition of JA biosynthesis in response to P. syringae. Results will be presented on the role of threonine deaminase 2 (TD2) in the biosynthesis of active versions of JA and the regulation of TD2 in response to P. syringae.

Video Conferencing at UTM (DV3138) & UTSc (MW229)