CRK/DUF26 receptor-like protein kinases as abiotic stress mediators in barley

 

This project is a "spin off" project from the recently published study, related to a Cysteine-rich Receptor-like Kinases (CRKs) group in barley [1]. We will investigate the genetic organization, transcriptional responses and possible molecular mechanisms of the Cysteine-rich Receptor-like Kinases (CRKs)/Domain of Unknown Function 26 (DUF26) group of genes belonging to the receptor like kinase (RLK) family in barley.

Having characterized a first member of the CRK gene family in barley for its interesting role in mediating penetration resistance against powdery mildew, we are now extending this study. The CRK family in barley is largely unexplored and promises to encompass important genes that mediate not only biotic, but also abiotic stresses. This claim is substantiated with the findings in Arabidopsis and rice, where several members of the CRK subfamily have been shown to be key players in signal transduction events leading to several important plant physiological processes.

 

Given that barley is an economically important food crop, carrying out an elaborate study on CRKs would be a valuable addition to the ongoing molecular work globally and in identifying molecular targets for barley crop improvement/breeding research programmes especially in relation to drought, salt and cold tolerance.

 

Some of the tools that are currently employed include:

• Bioinformatics (data mining, genome organization, protein structure predictions)
• Gene expression
• Microarray (customized array and data retrieval from published microarrays)
• Real time quantitative PCR (Designing and probing individual CRK members)
• Functional genomics (validating in planta function of promising CRKs by gene knock down/overexpression

Project leader: 

Dr. Cb. Gowda Rayapuram

Contact:

 

Collaborators:

Dr. Michael Lyngkjær and Prof. David B. Collinge, University of Copenhagen

Prof. Patrick Schweizer, Leibniz-Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben, Germany

 

Project funding agency:

The Danish research council (FTP)

 

Related publication

Rayapuram C, Michael K. Jensen, Johanna Vikgren, Jesper H. Rung, Patrick Schweizer, David B. Collinge and Michael F. Lyngkjær (2012). Regulation of basal resistance by a powdery mildew-induced cysteine-rich receptor-like protein kinase in barley. Molecular Plant Pathology 13(2), 135–147