Plants do not have eyes, ears, or nose, but that does not mean they can not see, hear, smell the potential dangers around them. The sensation of plants is both complex and mysterious. Now, a new study published in Nature marks the protein interactions of plants.
Unlike mammals, plants do not develop sensory organs. Instead, they use proteins on the outer membrane to probe surrounding chemicals and proteins released by pathogens or hormones from other organisms. If detected, it sends a warning signal to the cell. Research shows that there is a membrane protein type in the process is critical, that is, "LRR receptor protein kinase."
In plant development, growth, immunity, stress, there are hundreds of "LRR receptor protein kinase" involved. How do these proteins work together? In this regard, scientists have very limited understanding. But now, Shahid Mukhtar, an associate professor of biology at the University of Alabama, led an international team that marked the interaction of 200 of these proteins.
Mukhtar said this is a groundbreaking study aimed at identifying the first layer of interaction of these proteins. This can help scientists find ways to improve the plant's resistance to pathogens or environmental stresses such as drought, heat, cold and salt, and it also provides a roadmap for future research.
Researchers cloned the extracellular domain of LRR receptor protein kinases (the membrane proteins are located extracellularly) and tested in pairs to see if they interact. When proteins interact, they add information to the protein network. The results showed that some proteins are key and are the "main nodes" of the interaction network. In addition, some previously unrecognized "LRR receptor protein kinases" appear to be the key to plant sensory pathways.
To confirm the findings, researchers genetically engineered some plants to make them missing some important proteins. The results showed that the development of these plants and the immune system were compromised, thus confirming the importance of these proteins.
The results of this research can help scientists genetically engineer important plants and the military can even use plants as remote sensors. In addition, since some of the human proteins are structurally similar to "LRR receptor protein kinases," research findings also help scientists understand certain human diseases.