Regulation of cell-to-cell communication - the role of nanodomain-bound phosphoprotein REMORIN – PhosphoREM-domain

Cell-to-cell communication is mediated in plants by plasmodesmata PD, plasma membrane pores between cells. How plasma membrane (PM) of PD is involved in regulated is mostly unknown. The understanding of mechanisms governing phosphorylation, protein-protein interaction, and compartmentalization into nanodomains are critical issues on how plants limit for example virus propagation through PD. In this project we will use the plant-specific phosphoprotein group 1 REMORIN suggested to be a scaffold protein governing PM –bound signaling. The project is divided in 4 tasks: 1/ Decipher the role of phosphorylation in PM/PD-nanodomain segregation in PM; 2/ Deciphering the REM protein-interacting partners in a phosphorylation-dependent manner; 3/ Functional validation the protein-protein interaction network that allows the regulation of cell-to-cell communication; 4/ Structure-function analysis by RMN of REM-interactors.
The international expertise of the partners in PM signaling, protein structure and phosphorylation/kinase will be determinant.