Lifan Sun: The Plant Cell First Author

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Lifan Sun, first author of “TOUCH 3 and CALMODULIN 1/4/6 cooperate with calcium-dependent protein kinases to trigger calcium-dependent activation of CAM-BINDING PROTEIN 60-LIKE G and regulate fungal resistance in plants”

Current Position: Research Assistant, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

Education: Ph. D. candidate, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Non-scientific Interests: Running, Making handicrafts

Brief Bio: After graduating with a Master’s degree in 2016, I joined Jie Zhang’s research group in the State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. I knew about plant immune system for the first time here. During the whole life cycle, plants face the challenge of invasion by pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, insect vectors and etc. Upon pathogen infection, plants immediately activate immune responses to defend against pathogens and protect themselves. Plant cells seem to be delicate, but they are equipped with sophisticated immune systems. This amazes me and catches my interests in the study of plant immune mechanisms. I take the plants as my good friends as if I can feel the wonderful life of each plant, which makes me not alone in scientific research.

Calcium ion serves as an important second messenger in eukaryotes and regulates diverse cellular responses. Cell-surface and intracellular receptors are employed by plant cells to sense microbes and activate calcium influx.  The mechanisms through which plants decipher calcium influx to regulate downstream immune responses remain largely unknown.  Our study revealed cooperative interconnections between different types of calcium sensors in plants, uncovering a novel calcium signal decoding mechanism during plant immunity.

论文：TOUCH 3 and CALMODULIN 1/4/6 cooperate with calcium-dependent protein kinases to trigger calcium-dependent activation of CAM-BINDING PROTEIN 60-LIKE G and regulate fungal resistance in plants

姓名：孙丽璠

目前就职：中国科学院微生物研究所，助理研究员

教育背景：中国科学院微生物研究所，在读博士研究生

兴趣爱好：跑步、手工

个人简历：2016年加入到中国科学院微生物研究所和植物基因组学国家重点实验室张杰研究员团队工作，在这里第一次接触到植物免疫概念。植物生长过程中时刻面临着多种病原微生物（细菌、真菌、病毒、虫媒等）侵染。植物感受到病原微生物侵染时会迅速启动免疫反应来保护自己。植物细胞看似弱小，却具有非常精巧的免疫系统，让我惊讶折服。以至于面对每一株植物都能感受到它精彩的生命，把它当作好朋友，让我的科研之路不孤单，也让我对精妙的植物细胞免疫机制产生浓厚的兴趣。

钙信号是真核生物中重要的第二信使分子，调控众多细胞反应。植物利用细胞外和细胞内免疫受体感受微生物激活钙内流。目前对植物解码信号调控免疫的机制知之甚少。我们的研究发现了不同类型钙信号感受分子之间的协同调控作用，揭示了植物细胞解码钙信号激活免疫反应的新机制。