About This Project
When a microbe invades a plant cell, a new barrier membrane forms, creating Membrane Contact Sites (MCS) between the pathogen and the host. MCS, emerging field of cell biology, intensely studied in animals but largely unexplored in plants, brings new tools to the table, offering an opportunity for unique insights into plant-microbe interactions. We aim to unveil the molecular mechanisms driving MCS formation, paving the way for novel strategies to boost crop productivity and sustainability.
Ask the Scientists
Join The DiscussionWhat is the context of this research?
When a pathogen microorganism attempts to breach a plant cell, a new membrane (called extrahaustorial membrane) is dynamically formed to isolate the plant cytosol from the invading microorganism. At these membrane interfaces, the endoplasmic reticulum, the cell’s lipid factory, intimately associates with the nascent membrane, forming specialized junctions known as Membrane Contact Sites (MCSs). We hypothesize that lipids—essential fatty molecules that constitute the fundamental components of cellular membranes—are actively transported by lipid transfer proteins (LTP) from the endoplasmic reticulum to the nascent membrane, playing a key role in its biogenesis.
What is the significance of this project?
Pathogenic filamentous microorganisms pose a constant threat to crops globally and regionally, with climate change amplifying their spread and increasing the demand for environmentally friendly pest control methods. During infection, pathogens invade plant cells, leading to the formation of new membranes (EHM) and the generation of membrane contact sites (MCS) between the pathogen and host cell. Recent advances in the study of MCS in animals and yeast provide valuable insights and tools that can now be applied to plant systems. By investigating the mechanisms of membrane formation and MCS in plants, we aim to uncover critical details on how to target pathogens at the early stages of infection, potentially halting disease development before it progresses further
What are the goals of the project?
Preliminary findings suggest that ER localization around the EHM implicates MCSs in these processes. This raises compelling questions: Are these MCSs, and therefore lipid transfer, a plant defense strategy, or are they exploited by pathogens to access lipids for their haustoria?
By comparing ER-EHM interfaces from evolutionarily distant organisms and investigating whether LTPs' functions are conserved across different interactions, we can gain a better understanding of how host-pathogen co-evolution shapes the establishment of membrane contact sites.
My broader goal is to characterize MCSs across three systems:
1. Pathogenic fungi-plant interactions:
i) Arabidopsis thaliana / Golovinomyces orontii (Go) and Hordeum vulgare/Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei (Bgh)
2. Pathogenic Oomycete-plant interactions:
i) Nicotiana benthamiana/ Phytophthora infestans.
Budget
This grant will play a crucial role in advancing my research by providing essential funding for key aspects of the project. Specifically, it will help cover expenses related to experimental materials and laboratory supplies, primarily focused on the molecular biology components of the study. These include protein cloning, transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana, and subcellular localization analysis using confocal microscopy. We will collaborate with Dr. Thordal-Christensen's laboratory in Denmark to perform a laser confocal microscopy on barley infections
As a young researcher starting my own line of investigation, contributions like this are of great importance in helping to establish and strengthen my research program. While this grant is part of a broader funding strategy that includes support from the SENSE Brussels Foundation, its contribution is vital for progressing through critical stages of the research, ensuring the successful execution of the overall proposal.
Endorsed by
Project Timeline
1st semester: Tag LTPs with fluorescent proteins in Arabidopsis. Analyze LTP localization during Phytophthora infection using transient expression and confocal microscopy. Generate Arabidopsis plants with LTP-fluorescent fusions. 2nd semester: Perform molecular cloning for barley LTPs. Investigate LTP dynamics during Blumeria infection in barley. Analyze LTP behavior in Arabidopsis under fungal infection.
Jan 20, 2025
Project Launched
Apr 01, 2025
Molecular cloning LTP- Fluorescent marker for transient expression (N benthamiana)
May 01, 2025
Stable Arabidopsis thaliana transformation
May 15, 2025
Transient expression in N. benthamiana
Jun 15, 2025
Infection with Phytophthora and laser confocal microscopy
Meet the Team
Affiliates
Juan Martín D'Ambrosio
I am currently a researcher at the Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas (CONICET-UNMDP), where I study lipid transport at membrane contact sites during infection processes in plants.
I completed my undergraduate and doctoral studies at the Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, focusing on signal transduction mechanisms during biotic stress. Following my PhD, I decided to deepen my expertise in cell biology, particularly in the emerging field of Membrane Contact Sites (MCS). To pursue this, I undertook a postdoctoral position in France, where I investigated lipid transfer mechanisms in yeast. There, I had the privilege of working alongside outstanding colleagues, honing my skills, and establishing myself as an expert in the field.
Now, I am initiating my independent line of research in plants, aiming to apply the knowledge and techniques I acquired in yeast and animal models to plant systems in the context of MCS. Step by step, I am building my research team and fostering collaborations with researchers in France and Denmark who share and support my vision.
My journey has been characterized by achieving team goals, developing valuable professional skills such as project management, mentoring, and scientific communication, and building meaningful connections with colleagues across the globe. With expertise I strive to bridge different research fields to uncover novel insights into lipid dynamics and plant-pathogen interactions.
In my spare time, curious about the art. https://www.instagram.com/juan...
Lab Notes
Nothing posted yet.
Project Backers
- 0Backers
- 0%Funded
- $0Total Donations
- $0Average Donation