Dr Christine Faulkner
Project Leader
Crop Genetics
In multicellular organisms, whole tissues and organs must respond in a co-ordinated fashion to environmental and developmental stimuli.
Most plant cells are connected to their neighbours by dynamic channels called plasmodesmata which allow and regulate the flux of molecules and information between cells, facilitating intercellular communication.
Research in the Faulkner lab focuses on how intercellular communication regulates responses to pathogens. We aim to dissect the mechanisms by which plasmodesmata open and close to control defence associated domains of communication and intercellular flux.
Beyond this, we also investigate how plasmodesmata-defined symplastic domains regulate different defence responses with respect to both PAMP-triggered and effector-triggered responses, as well as systemic acquired resistance.
Control of cellular defence by the regulation of plasmodesmata offers new strategies to enhance defence responses, as well as to impair the infection of pathogens such as viruses and some fungi that exploit plasmodesmata to establish infection.
Contact
christine.faulkner@jic.ac.ukRecent Publications
An automated quantitative image analysis tool for the identification of microtubule patterns in plants.
Traffic (Copenhagen, Denmark) 11 p109-117
Publisher’s version: 10.1111/tra.12505
A calmodulin-like protein regulates plasmodesmal closure during bacterial immune responses.
New Phytologist tbd ptbd
Publisher’s version: 10.1111/nph.14599
Isolation of Plasmodesmata.
Publisher’s version: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6533-5_15
A cellular backline: specialization of host membranes for defence.
Journal of Experimental Botany advance access perv021
Publisher’s version: 10.1093/jxb/erv021
The Plasmodesmal Protein PDLP1 Localises to Haustoria-Associated Membranes during Downy Mildew Infection and Regulates Callose Deposition.
PLoS Pathogens 10 pe1004496
Publisher’s version: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004496
Christine Faulkner
- Cecilia Marie Michel Cheval Postdoctoral Scientist
- Dr Diana Papp Postdoctoral Scientist
Media
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