Characterization of Resistance Mechanisms to the Photosensi-tizing Compound Cercosporin
{'Code': '08070600', 'Directorate': {'Abbreviation': 'BIO', 'LongName': 'Direct For Biological Sciences'}, 'Division': {'Abbreviation': 'MCB', 'LongName': 'Div Of Molecular and Cellular Bioscience'}}
{'SignBlockName': 'Maryanna P. Henkart', 'PO_EMAI': None, 'PO_PHON': None}
The overall goal of this research is to understand mechanisms                   used by organisms to defend themselves against photosensitizing                 compounds, compounds which are activated by light and, when                     photoactivated, are toxic to living cells.  Specifically, this                  work will address the resistance of a group of fungal plant                     pathogens, Cercospora species, to the photosensitizing toxin                    cercosporin which they produce.  Preliminary studies in this                    laboratory have demonstrated that the production of carotenoids                 and the presence of some cell surface factor(s) are responsible                 for cercosporin resistance.  Of the two, the cell surface                       factor(s) appears to be of primary importance and will be the                   major emphasis of this work.  Two major approaches will be used.                In one, a heterologous transformation system will be used to                    identify genes responsible for cercosporin resistance.  The                     fungus Neurospora crassa, which lacks the cell surface factor(s),               will be used as a recipient for a Cercospora genomic library, and               transformants will be screened for cercosporin resistance.  In                  the second approach, interactions of the cercosporin molecule                   with sensitive (freshly isolated) and resistant (12 hour old)                   protoplasts will be studied.  Attempts will be made to isolate a                cercosporin-binding protein, and possible changes in the                        cercosporin molecule as it contacts the surface of a resistant                  cell will be studied by looking for alterations in the                          fluorescence emission spectra of cercosporin in contact with the                surface of sensitive and resistant cells.                                                                                                                       This work has the potential to provide new and significant                      information relevant to a number of disciplines.                                Photosensitizers are important compounds in nature, and are used                in medicine and agriculture, yet little is known about mechanisms               by which certain organisms or cell types resist their effects.                  Characterization of the fungal cell surface factor(s) responsible               for the resistance of this fungus to its own toxin therefore,                   will expand significantly our understanding of this phenomenon.
[{'FirstName': 'W. Scott', 'LastName': 'Chilton', 'PI_MID_INIT': None, 'PI_SUFX_NAME': None, 'PI_FULL_NAME': 'W. Scott Chilton', 'EmailAddress': None, 'NSF_ID': '000223443', 'StartDate': '06/01/1989', 'EndDate': None, 'RoleCode': 'Co-Principal Investigator'}, {'FirstName': 'Margaret', 'LastName': 'Daub', 'PI_MID_INIT': 'E', 'PI_SUFX_NAME': None, 'PI_FULL_NAME': 'Margaret E Daub', 'EmailAddress': 'margaret_daub@ncsu.edu', 'NSF_ID': '000099005', 'StartDate': '06/01/1989', 'EndDate': None, 'RoleCode': 'Principal Investigator'}]
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[{'Code': '1114', 'Text': 'Cellular Dynamics and Function'}, {'Code': '9145', 'Text': 'SPECIAL PROGRAMS-RESERVE'}]
{'url': 'https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/download?DownloadFileName=1988&All=true', 'xml': '8817073.xml'}