B05
Functional diversification within the microbial NLP superfamily
This project will analyze a subclass of the microbial family of proteins called necrosis- and ethylene-inducing peptide 1-like proteins (NLPs). Functional diversification has taken place in this family since the protein group under study lacks cytolytic activity. We intend to elucidate the physiological role of non-cytolytic NLPs (ncNLPs) in host plant infection as well as their molecular mechanism of action. NcNLP overexpression and biochemical binding studies will provide information about the virulence function of these proteins, the molecular nature of their plant targets and thus their molecular mechanism of action.
Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Thorsten Nürnberger, Centre of Plant Molecular, University of Tübingen