In plants, growth and defense pathways are regulated by hormone cross-talk
and a set of proteins responsible for the activation or repression of these pathways.
Transcription factors JACKDAW (JKD), SHOORTROOT (SHR), and
SCARECROW (SCR) form a complex to regulate the patterning of the roots.
JASMONATE-ZIM domain (JAZ) proteins repress the Jasmonic Acid (JA) defense
response through inhibiting transcription factor MYC2. TCP14, a member
of the Teosinte branched1/Cycloidea/Proliferaitng cell factor1&2 (TCP) family
of transcription factors, promotes Gibberellin (GA) growth pathway activation
and is a repressor of the JA defense pathway. Previous data shows that JKD
binds to JAZ3 and TCP14, and that JAZ3 and TCP14 may interact. Whether
these interactions occur in vitro, and if other protein complexes also form, has not
been confirmed yet. In this project, I aimed to study these protein interactions,
as they may play a role in the growth-defense trade-offs affecting plant fitness. I
used pull-down assays to confirm direct protein-protein binding, and utilized Alphafold
to identify the interaction interfaces. I also developed an assay to assess
liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and found that TCP14 phase separates.
These studies provide insight to how these proteins may regulate and connect
growth and defense.
| Date of Award | Jul 2023 |
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| Original language | English (US) |
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| Awarding Institution | - Biological, Environmental Sciences and Engineering
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| Supervisor | Stefan Arold (Supervisor) |
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