# Immune control by GBPL proteins in Arabidopsis

> **NIH NIH R35** · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $354,166

## Abstract

Project Summary
Every living organism possesses a defense system crucial for distinguishing self from potentially harmful
foreign invaders. This defense system is essential for survival and is finely tuned to protect against threats that
may compromise the organism's integrity. The long-term goal of this proposal is to unravel the immune
surveillance mechanisms employed by a new class of immune GTPases, the 65~120kDa Guanylate binding
protein-like (GBPL) proteins, in the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana. Preliminary evidence suggests
that this new three-member GBPL protein family bridges both sensing and sterilizing activities in plants via
mechanisms distinct from well-established plant defense pathways. We are focused in part on how GBPL1, a
pseudoGTPase, fine-tunes immune homeostasis as a negative regulator of defense. Here a combination of
targeted mutagenesis, structural modeling and organismal genetics will be used to determine the sequence-
enzyme relationships governing GBPL1's functions and, in turn, understand its implications in host defense.
We are also testing the importance of GBPL2 to act as a broad-spectrum danger sensor under physiological
conditions to elicit sterilizing activities. This will be examined using powerful host-pathogen genetics,
biochemistry and advanced imaging strategies to unveil the intricate molecular processes that enable GBPL2
to sense external cues and trigger effective immune responses. Lastly, we are exploring the role of GBPL3 in
enhancing defense responses and influencing gene expression through the realm of biological phase
separation. We are employing facile protein organelle biochemistry, proteomics, imaging and reconstitution
techniques to probe how GBPL3 condensates are regulated in vivo in the context of infection. Collectively, this
research addresses fundamental questions in plant host defense and offers insights into immune mechanisms
applicable to diverse organisms including humans.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10936726
- **Project number:** 1R35GM154863-01
- **Recipient organization:** OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Shuai Huang
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $354,166
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-15 → 2029-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10936726

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10936726, Immune control by GBPL proteins in Arabidopsis (1R35GM154863-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10936726. Licensed CC0.

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