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SUMMARY:Employing RAM2-mediated root resistance against a leaf pathogen - 
 Stuart Fawke (Schornack Lab)
DTSTART:20140509T120000Z
DTEND:20140509T122500Z
UID:TALK51405@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Megan Cooper
DESCRIPTION:The formation of root surface penetration structures by both b
 eneficial arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and pathogenic oomycetes is de
 pendent upon the presence of plant cutin monomers. Recent research using M
 edicago truncatula mutants found that plants which were defective in a GPA
 T (glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase)\, encoded by the gene RAM2\, have
  disrupted cutin monomer composition. RAM2 mutant plants are much more res
 istant to colonisation by both Phytophthora palmivora (oomycete pathogen) 
 and Rhizophagus irregularis (AM fungi) while their overall development is 
 unaffected. My hypothesis is that the function of RAM2 may be conserved in
  other plant species with regard to their interaction with filamentous mic
 robes. If this is true\, it may be possible to transfer this resistance pr
 inciple to important crop species\, i.e. resistance to Phytophthora infest
 ans\, which causes late blight\, in tomato and potato. So far I have ident
 ified multiple homologues of MtRAM2 in tomato\, potato and Nicotiana benth
 amiana and am currently applying a reverse genetics approach to investigat
 e their effect on P. infestans infection whilst also checking for developm
 ental effects. Early results are intriguing because when RAM2 homologues a
 re silenced in N. benthamiana an increase in susceptibility to P. infestan
 s is observed.  In parallel\, when a tomato RAM2 homologue is transiently 
 overexpressed in N. benthamiana\, leaves are more resistant to P. infestan
 s.
LOCATION:Department of Plant Sciences\, Large Lecture Theatre
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