Research Group: Plant Signaling

We study different component of signaling, including H⁺ and Ca²⁺ fluxes, activation of protein kinases and phosphatases, and signalling peptides and their receptors.

Signal perception at the cell surface by receptors and transduction of these signals to the cell interior is essential for plants in order to react and adapt to changes in the surroundings.

Studies of signal transduction and receptor activation that together modulate growth and development is a complex, but fascinating topic. This work requires a combination of biochemical, molecular and bioimaging methods.

Another interest is plant and fungal receptors for bacterial outer cell wall molecules, the following signaling pathways in eukaryotic hosts, and the chemical structures and synthesis of some of these bacterial molecules.

Finally, an applied angle of the research is identification of modulators of both plant and fungal H⁺-ATPases, as these proteins has a great potential as growth regulator- and drug-targets. Here we have recently performed a systematic screening of fungal compounds for their effect on the plant PM H⁺-ATPase enzyme activity. This have led to the identification of several compounds with a biotechnological potential as plant biologicals.

Find more information about the group in the menu below.

Research themes

Fungal compounds as plant biologicals: We explore the possibilities for a biotechnological utilization of fungal compounds targeting the plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase, an essential enzyme for the plant.”
Small signaling peptides: We work specifically with RALF and PSY1 peptides, their receptors and down-stream signaling.
Cellular ion fluxes: We study the role of H⁺ and Ca²⁺ -fluxes in plant and fungal cells as response to both biotic and abiotic stimuli.

For students wishing to work within these topics M.Sc. and B.Sc. projects are currently available. Please contact Anja Fuglsang atf@plen.ku.dk

Current research projects

PlantsGoImmune
Fungal pathogens secrete hundreds of effector proteins to promote disease. By using a yeast-based screen, we aim at identifying molecular effector targets and elucidate the mechanism of the effectors. Identification of effector mechanisms will be used in the development of crops with improved resistance towards pathogens.

Naturlige vækststimulerende plantepeptider - produktion og test på næringsstofoptag
The purpose of this project is to produce small sulfated plant peptides in yeast and evaluate their potential as new plant growth promoting peptides.

Nanodisc production in living cells facilitates structural studies of membrane proteins
Willum experiment to Frederik Tidemand (2022-2023).

Direct extraction of active membrane proteins and complexes for cryo-EM
Willum experiment to Nicolai Johansen (2021-2022).

Fungicides DECODED
Funded by a Novo Nordisk Foundation Pioneer Innovator grant (2023-24).

In vivo detection of plant signalling peptides
Funded by Independent Research Fund Denmark (Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond), fields of ‘Technology and Production Sciences (FTP)’ (2022-25).

Key publications

Screening for modulators of H⁺-ATPase activity:

Tenuazonic acid from Stemphylium loti inhibits the plant plasma membrane H⁺ -ATPase by a mechanism involving the C-terminal regulatory domain.

Bjørk PK, Rasmussen SA, Gjetting SK, Havshøi NW, Petersen TI, Ipsen JØ, Larsen TO, Fuglsang AT.

New Phytol. (2020)

Identification of Antifungal H⁺-ATPase Inhibitors with Effect on Plasma Membrane Potential.

Kjellerup L, Gordon S, Cohrt KO, Brown WD, Fuglsang AT, Winther AL.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. (2017)

Peptide-Receptor signaling:

Evidence for multiple receptors mediating RALF-triggered Ca²⁺ signaling and proton pump inhibition.

Gjetting SK, Mahmood K, Shabala L, Kristensen A, Shabala S, Palmgren M, Fuglsang AT.

Plant J. (2020)

Activation of the LRR Receptor-Like Kinase PSY1R Requires Transphosphorylation of Residues in the Activation Loop.

Oehlenschlæger CB, Gersby LBA, Ahsan N, Pedersen JT, Kristensen A, Solakova TV, Thelen JJ, Fuglsang AT.

Front Plant Sci. (2017)

Reviews:

Proton and calcium pumping P-type ATPases and their regulation of plant responses to the environment, Anja T Fuglsang, Michael Palmgren, Plant Physiology, (2020) https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiab330

A critical review on natural compounds interacting with the plant plasma membrane H⁺ -ATPase -and their potential as biologicals in agriculture.

Havshøi NW, Fuglsang AT. J Integr Plant Biol. (2022)

Group members

Name	Title	Phone	E-mail
Amalie Scheel Tost	PhD Fellow		E-mail
Anja Thoe Fuglsang	Professor	+4535332586	E-mail
Barbara Dusak	PhD Fellow	+4535336410	E-mail
Frederik Grønbæk Tidemand	Postdoc	+4528257092	E-mail
Marzanna Due	Laboratory Technician	+4535328186	E-mail
Nanna Weise Havshøi	PhD Fellow	+4535325140	E-mail
Nicolai Tidemand Johansen	Assistant Professor	+4535337967	E-mail

Master students

Peter Starup
Andreas S. Ramsing
Sabrine N. Hansen
Alexander K. Rasmussen
Kasper B. di Renzo
Camilla Rød

Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences