Abstract
Arabidopsis disease resistance protein RPM1 recognizes AvrRpm1, a type III effector released from Pseudomonas syringae and activates defense responses such as rapid hypersensitive cell death at infection site and accumulation of antimicrobial compounds in systemic tissues. In spite of comprehensive genetic studies, its signaling cascade is still unclear. To overcome redundancy and lethality problems in genetics, we introduced chemical genomics, an alternative approach for gene identification using organic compounds that disrupt particular biological process in combination with functional genomics and biochemistry. The use of unbiased diverse small molecule libraries allowed us to target broad range of proteins. We established a cell death assay system suitable for high throughput screenings using Arabidopsis suspension cells. Twelve thousand chemicals provided from Chembridge and Microsource were screened and various cell death inhibitors and potentiators were isolated. These potentiators can be applied for agricultural agents that protect crops against various pathogens.
