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SUMMARY:Phytic acid and plant defence responses - Jacquelyne Poon
DTSTART:20130426T113000Z
DTEND:20130426T120000Z
UID:TALK44277@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Megan Cooper
DESCRIPTION:Inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6) has been suggested as a sign
 alling compound in basal defence responses against pathogen invasion (Murp
 hy et al. 2008). Mutant Arabidopsis plants with reduced expression of Atip
 s2 (inositol phosphate synthase 2)\, but not atips1 mutants\, were previou
 sly shown to have enhanced susceptibility to a range of pathogens\, includ
 ing two RNA viruses (cucumber mosaic virus and turnip mosaic virus)\, a DN
 A virus (cauliflower mosaic virus)\, a bacterium (Pseudomonas syringae)\, 
 and a necrotrophic fungus (Botrytis cinerea). I am manipulating biochemica
 l pathways leading to InsP6 production to further understand the role(s) o
 f inositol polyphosphates in plant defence. To test whether elevating InsP
 6 content enhances resistance to pathogens\, I am decreasing the expressio
 n of myo-inositol oxygenase (MIOX)\, which is encoded by a small family of
  four Miox genes in Arabidopsis. Biosynthesis of InsP6 relies primarily on
  the bioavailability of its precursors\, myo-inositol and inorganic phosph
 ate\, the former of which is restricted by MIOX. MIOX converts inositol to
  glucuronic acid\, directing biosynthesis towards polysaccharide productio
 n. Arabidopsis plants with reduced MIOX expression were previously shown t
 o have increased InsP6 levels. I will then test atmiox mutants (single or 
 multiple null allele) for effects on pathogen susceptibility and for effec
 ts on signalling mediated by jasmonic acid and salicylic acid\, phytohormo
 nes with key roles in defence.
LOCATION:Biffen Lecture Theater\, Department of Genetics
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