Pathogen detection and response are critical components of defense against disease in all organisms. The Membrane Attack Complex/Perforin Family (MACPF) of proteins play an important role in immune responses in eukaryotic cells. There are four MACPF proteins encoded in the genome of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. One of these is known as Constitutively Active Defense 1 (CAD1), and although the molecular function of this protein family is unclear, there are some hints that MACPF proteins may be important for cellular and immune homeostasis.
In a recent study, former BSc thesis student Danalyn Holmes, with co-authors Dr. Melissa Bredow, Irina Sementchoukova, Sydney Pascetta, and Kristen Siegel, along with collaborators Dr. Kathrin Thor and Dr. Cyril Zipfel (The Sainsbury Laboratory Norwich), performed a forward-genetic screen that uncovered a novel allele in CAD1 that allowed a thorough genetic investigation into its role in immune signaling. Lead by Queen’s Biology Assistant Professor Dr. Jacqueline Monaghan, this work is an important contribution to our understanding of plant pathogen detection and response. To learn more, read their article in Genetics.
