# Immune signal perception and integration by cell surface receptors and peptide ligands

> **NIH NIH R35** · TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH · 2022 · $374,228

## Abstract

Immune signal perception and integration by cell surface receptors and peptide ligands
Plants and animals rely on pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) to detect infection by recognizing microbe-
associated molecular patterns (MAMPs). Plant plasma membrane (PM)-resident receptor kinases (RKs) function
as PRRs that sense MAMPs from diverse microbes and collectively contribute to plant immunity. Plant RKs also
perceive a wide range of extrinsic and intrinsic signals and regulate growth, reproduction, and environmental
adaptation. The signaling pathways mediated by many RKs converge at a subfamily of RKs, namely
BAK1/SERKs, that function as shared coreceptors associating with various receptors upon ligand perception
modulating plant immunity, growth, and immune homeostasis. The PM-tethered cytoplasmic kinase BIK1
associates with multiple PRR-BAK1 complexes and relays the intracellular signaling events. Microbial infection
also induces the gene expression of many secreted peptides, which could function as immunomodulatory
phytocytokines perceived by PRRs and fortify plant immunity. This proposal's long-term goal is to elucidate the
mechanisms underlying pathogen signal perception and integration by PRR complexes via shared modules in
coordination with phytocytokines for a rapid, specific, and robust immune response. The proposed research will
address several key questions in the field. The project will elucidate how BIK1-associated PRR receptorsome
dynamics are spatiotemporally regulated and relay the diverse immune signaling. As a critical kinase, BIK1
homeostasis, activities, and subcellular dynamics are regulated by the intertwined phosphorylation and
ubiquitination modifications. The project will define how the shared BAK1/SERK coreceptors maintain the
functional specificity in different receptorsomes. The studies will address how signaling specificity is regulated
with the single-cell resolution at the organismal level. The project will also study how immunomodulatory
phytocytokines coordinate with microbial patterns to mount effective immunity. The proposed interdisciplinary
research will provide ample training opportunities for researchers at different levels, including underrepresented
undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and will advance our understanding of innate
immunity and signal transduction at the whole organismal level by identifying new components and delineating
novel pathways that regulate immune signal integration, signaling activation, attenuation, and specificity.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10330894
- **Project number:** 1R35GM144275-01
- **Recipient organization:** TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH
- **Principal Investigator:** Libo Shan
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $374,228
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-01-01 → 2026-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10330894

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10330894, Immune signal perception and integration by cell surface receptors and peptide ligands (1R35GM144275-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10330894. Licensed CC0.

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