University Professor RWTH Aachen University Aachen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
MLO proteins were discovered in the context of powdery mildew susceptibility over 40 years ago. Although their biochemical function has not fully been resolved in this time, it was discovered that different MLO proteins in spermatophytic plants are involved in multiple cellular processes in different tissues. The only connection between these processes seems to be a link to cell polarity. Recently it was shown, that MLO proteins from the model plant A. thaliana interact with members of the exocyst subunit EXO70 protein family in an isoform-preferential manner. In the context of the MAdLand project we aim to examine the co-evolution of the MLO and EXO70 proteins and their interaction. To this end we apply several established protein production and interaction assays with MLO and EXO70 proteins from Chara braunii and Mesotaenium endlicherianum in different heterologous organisms. The first results of split-luciferase complementation assays show promising interaction of MLO and EXO70 protein paralogs from these streptophytic algal species.
