Divergent Membrane Trafficking Of Plant Immune Receptors
This is one of the funded projects for our 2025 Undergraduate vacation bursary, click here to return to the list of 15 projects.
| This project is going to be… | Experimental (lab/field based) |
| Institute | Imperial College London |
| Project supervisor | Dr. Tolga Bozkurt |
| Title of Project | Divergent Membrane Trafficking Of Plant Immune Receptors |
| Date of Project Commencement | 30 June 2025 |
| Duration (weeks) | 8 |
| Brief Description of Project | PROJECT SUMMARYThe project will investigate how plant nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) immune receptors localize to organelle membranes to trigger immune responses. Traditionally, NLRs were thought to function at the plasma membrane, but emerging research suggests they also engage intracellular organelles to coordinate plant defense. This novel immune strategy could redefine our understanding of plant-pathogen interactions. The study will determine the molecular mechanisms underlying NLR organelle localization and the implications for immune activation. The insights gained will contribute to strategies for engineering disease-resistant crops, enhancing food security and sustainable agriculture.SUPERVISION AND STUDENT SUPPORT The student will attend an introductory lab meeting, meet team members, and receive information and training in lab protocols. The student will receive structured guidance and mentorship:• Daily Supervision: Dr. Enoch Yuen (PDRA) will provide hands-on support in experimental design, data analysis, and troubleshooting challenges. • PI Mentorship: Dr. Tolga Bozkurt will offer one-on-one mentoring, providing critical feedback on experimental progress and data interpretation.• Lab Meetings and Peer Support: The student will present their findings in weekly lab meetings, enhancing problem-solving, analytical thinking, and communication skills. • Training in biosafety protocols, experiment design, and data interpretation, ensuring a well-rounded research experience.BENEFITS FOR THE STUDENT This experience will provide the student with essential laboratory, analytical, and professional skills crucial for a research career:• Experimental Expertise: The student will gain hands-on training in molecular cloning (Gibson Assembly, Golden Gate), protein interaction assays (co-immunoprecipitation), confocal microscopy, PCR, protein purification, and plant-pathogen interaction assays. • Computational Skills: Training in AI-driven approaches, including AlphaFold-Multimer, for structural predictions in plant immune receptor interactions.• Scientific Communication: The student will improve their ability to present research findings through regular updates in lab meetings, writing a research report, and potentially co-authoring preprints and publications. • Career Development: Exposure to academic and industry career pathways through networking opportunities, collaborations, and participation in interdisciplinary discussions on plant immunity and bioengineering.RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT The project will be hosted at Imperial College London, a globally recognized institution with state-of-the-art facilities for molecular biology, plant pathology, and imaging technologies. This is a lab-based project that requires hands-on experimental work in molecular plant pathology. The student will work in a collaborative research environment with access to advanced imaging systems and computational tools.Recommended reading for the project 1. T. Ibrahim, E. L. H. Yuen, H.Y Wang, F. J. King, A.A. Toghani, . . . T. O. Bozkurt, (2024) A helper NLR targets organellar membranes to trigger immunity. bioRxiv https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.09.19.6138392. J. Madhuprakash, A. Toghani, M. P. Contreras, A. Posbeyikian, J. Richardson, J. Kourelis, . . . S. Kamoun, (2024) A disease resistance protein triggers oligomerization of its NLR helper into a hexameric resistosome to mediate innate immunity. bioRxiv (Accepted in Sci Advances), 2024.2006.2018.599586. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.06.18.599586 3. S. Shepherd, E. L. H. Yuen, P. Carella, T. O. Bozkurt, (2023) The wheels of destruction: Plant NLR immune receptors are mobile and structurally dynamic disease resistance proteins. Current Opinion in Plant Biology 74, 102372. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2023.1023724. C. Duggan, E. Moratto, Z. Savage, E. Hamilton, H. Adachi, C. H. Wu, . . . T. O. Bozkurt, (2021) Dynamic localization of a helper NLR at the plant-pathogen interface underpins pathogen recognition. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 118, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2104997118 5. P. Jacob, N. H. Kim, F. Wu, F. El-Kasmi, Y. Chi, W. G. Walton, O. J. Furzer, A. D. Lietzan, S. Sunil, K. Kempthorn, M. R. Redinbo, Z.-M. Pei, L. Wan, J. L. Dangl, (2021) Plant “helper” immune receptors are Ca²⁺-permeable nonselective cation channels. Science 373, 420-425. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abg7917 |
