LEARNING FROM A PLANT-PARASITE SYSTEM TO PROTECT AND INNOVATE PLANT PRODUCTION

Major GoalsThe goal of this project is to define the molecular interplay between xylan (hemicellulose, a polysaccharide) and cell wall-related proteins in interactions between rice plants and nematode pests. By investigating this molecular interaction surrounding xylan, this project can translate discoveries for two major outcomes: 1) crop plant resistance to nematodes and 2) tools to engineer xylan deposition and cell wall structure. This work has the potential for sustainable agricultural intensification via crop protection and value-added innovation of xylan for its dynamic roles in biofuel production, biomechanics, and crop plant resilience to stressors.ObjectivesSurvey genes and regulators of rice xylan deposition during nematode infection to advance genomic engineering of xylan metabolism.Map spatial and temporal xylan fluctuations in root cell walls during infection.Test rice xylan synthase function during infection.Build gene regulatory networks of rice responses to nematode infection.Define key regulators in xylan synthesis during rice responses to nematodes.Characterize nematode xylanase hydrolytic activity to find tools for xylan catabolism.Define nematode xylanase expression patterns.Test xylanase hydrolytic activity with enzymatic assays.Silence xylanases in nematodes to determine their role in infection.Test the effectivity of rice xylanase-inhibiting proteases (XIPs) to expand our toolkit for engineering cell wall structure.Model protein-protein interactions between rice XIPs and nematode xylanases.Test rice XIP function during nematode parasitism.Test inhibitory activity of rice XIPs on nematode xylanases with enzymatic assays.Confirm XIP-xylanase interactions in vitro and in planta.