1. PEPR2
PEPR1 and PEPR2 are leucine-rich repeat receptors (LRRs) to pep1, a peptide which
increases resistance to phytophthora species. PEPR1 has already shown to amplify patterned
triggered immunity.PEPR2 acts as a receptor to two of the six receptors that PEPR1 interacts
with. Introducing PEPR2 into plants which already have PEPR1 will allow us to determine any
altered or increases resistance to Phytophthora. Our goal is to over express both PEPR1 and
PEPR2 in tomato and potato plants to determine the effect of having both LRR receptors verses
solely PEPR1.
Using bioinformatics I have started transformation using Agrobacteium-mediated transformation
of PEPR2 into tomato and potato leaf explants which have already been introduced to PEPR1
to create more effective resistance.
PRR
I have also been working with pattern recognition receptors (PRR) genes. The PRRs recognize
pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) which creates a resistance to phytophthora
infection by blocking the pathogens ability to avoid detection. Of these 71 genes found at the
Fry lab at Cornell, which are induced during phytopthora-tomato interactions, 17 contain
extracellular LRR. I have been working with several of those 17. At this point in my work 7130,
1820, 6100 and 6320 have been successfully cloned into a binary vector. **western-blot
results**
I have started work on 7190, 1860, 2470, 5570 and 1510 for future tissue culture and
transformation as well.