Project properties
Title Organization of the actin cytoskeleton of Phytophthora infestans and its role in mycelium elongation
Group Plant Cell Biology, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 16-28
Supervisor(s) Dr. Tijs Ketelaar and Dr. Francine Govers (Phytopathology)
Examiner(s) Prof. Dr. Anne Mie Emons
Contact info tijs.ketelaar@wur.nl
0317 482453
Begin date 2006/01/01
End date 2009/12/31
Description Oomycetes are a group of fungus-like eukaryotes. They are the most devastating pathogens of dicot plants, causing enormous economic damage on important crops and environmental damage in natural ecosystems. The most destructive and best-studied oomycete is Phytophthora infestans. Despite the fact that oomycetes exhibit a fungal-like growth morphology, they are not at all related to true fungi. Phylogenetic studies revealed that oomycetes are closely related to heterokont golden-brown algae and much closer to plants than to fungi. Nevertheless, oomycetes and fungi evolved similar weaponry to attack plants.

From work on plant cells, we know that the actin cytoskeleton is essential of cell growth and survival. The cytoskeleton of actin filaments is evolutionary conserved and its regulatory actin binding proteins (ABPs) are, therefore, expected to be targets for inhibitory compounds that may be suitable for controlling oomycetes plant pathogens.

The aim of this project is to visualise the actin cytoskeleton in live cells of P. infestans by expression of an actin binding domain, fused to a fluorescent protein. We will test the response of P. infestans to the actin depolymerizing drugs Cytochalasin D and Latrunculin A, in order to find out what the role is of this cytoskeleton in cell growth of P. infestans mycelium.
Used skills Culture of Phytophthora infestans mycelia will be learned in the laboratory of Dr. Francine Govers of Phytopathology and has to be carried out independently at the laboratory of Plant Cell Biology; confocal laser scanning microscopy and digital analysis of the images will be carried out at Plant Cell Biology.
Requirements CBI 10304; PCB 30304 (advised, not obliged)