Receptor-like kinases are one of the largest protein families known in plants. In spite of their abundance in the plant genome, comparatively little is known about their function during signaling processes.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are now recognized as important signaling molecules with roles in responses to abiotic and biotic stresses, both themselves triggering ROS production. However, how plants can distinguish between ROS with the apparent specificity in respect to subcellular localization and type of ROS is yet very poorly understood.
Bringing together expertise in plant pathogen interactions, ROS biology in plants, and experience in the investigation of RLK interactions the PROSIG consortium (Plant Receptor-like Kinases In ROS Signaling) aims to understand the functional role of the RLK protein family in ROS signaling.