A5023714747- Plant Molecular Biology Research
- Plant Reproductive Biology
- Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism
- Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Biocrusts and Microbial Ecology
- 3D Printing in Biomedical Research
- Plant Micronutrient Interactions and Effects
- Microtubule and mitosis dynamics
- Polysaccharides and Plant Cell Walls
- Gene Regulatory Network Analysis
- Modular Robots and Swarm Intelligence
- Cell Image Analysis Techniques
- Electrospun Nanofibers in Biomedical Applications
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Caveolin-1 and cellular processes
- Tree Root and Stability Studies
- Retinal Development and Disorders
- Leaf Properties and Growth Measurement
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Ecosystem dynamics and resilience
- Aluminum toxicity and tolerance in plants and animals
- Plant and Biological Electrophysiology Studies
- Mathematical Biology Tumor Growth
- Advanced Memory and Neural Computing
- Distributed Control Multi-Agent Systems
Cardiff University
2019-2025
John Innes Centre
2012-2022
Norwich Research Park
2012-2022
University of East Anglia
2012
Utrecht University
2006-2009
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
2003-2005
Lateral organ position along roots and shoots largely determines plant architecture, depends on auxin distribution patterns. Determination of the underlying patterning mechanisms has hitherto been complicated because they operate during growth division. Here, we show by experiments computational modeling that curvature Arabidopsis root influences cell sizes, which, together with tissue properties determine transport, induces higher levels in pericycle cells outside curve. The abundance...
Significance The maintenance of boundaries between neighboring groups distinct cell types is vital during development multicellular organisms, as cells with functions must be kept physically separated to guarantee correct control organ and body growth function. In the Arabidopsis root, transition zone a developmental boundary in meristem that separates dividing from differentiating cells. Here, we infer well-defined tightly controlled minimum hormone auxin acts signal establish position by...
To regulate shape changes, motility and chemotaxis in eukaryotic cells, signal transduction pathways channel extracellular stimuli to the reorganization of actin cytoskeleton. The complexity such networks makes it difficult understand roles individual components, let alone their interactions multiple feedbacks within a given layer between layers signalling. Even more challenging is question if how cell affects affected by this internal spatiotemporal reorganization. Here we build on our...
Tissue cell polarity plays a major role in plant and animal development. We propose that fundamental building block for tissue is the process of intracellular partitioning, which can establish individual absence asymmetric cues. Coordination polarities may then arise through cell-cell coupling, operate directly, membrane-spanning complexes, or indirectly, diffusible molecules. Polarity anchored to tissues organisers located at boundaries. show how this partitioning-based framework be applied...
A developing plant organ exhibits complex spatiotemporal patterns of growth, cell division, size, shape, and shape. Explaining these presents a challenge because their dynamics cross-correlations, which can make it difficult to disentangle causes from effects. To address problems, we used live imaging determine the leaf growth division in different genetic tissue contexts. In simplifying background speechless (spch) mutant, lacks stomatal lineages, epidermal layer defined along proximodistal...
The biophysical characteristics of cells determine their shape in isolation and when packed within tissues. Cells can form regular or irregular epithelial structures, round up clusters, deform attach to substrates. acquired tissues is a consequence (i) internal cytoskeletal processes, such as actin polymerisation cortical myosin contraction, (ii) adhesion molecules the cell membrane that interact with substrates neighbouring cells, (iii) processes regulate volume. Although these seem...
Quantifying cell morphology is fundamental to the statistical study of populations, and can help unravel mechanisms underlying tissue morphogenesis. Current methods, however, require extensive human intervention, are highly parameter sensitive, or produce metrics difficult interpret biologically. We therefore developed a method, Lobe Contribution Elliptical Fourier Analysis (LOCO-EFA), which generates from digitalised 2D outlines meaningful descriptors that be directly matched morphological...
D'Arcy Thompson emphasised the importance of surface tension as a potential driving force in establishing cell shape and topology within tissues. Leaf epidermal pavement cells grow into jigsaw-piece shapes, highly deviating from such classical forms. We investigate developing Arabidopsis leaves composed solely cells. Image analysis around 50,000 reveals clear unique topological signature, previously studied This distribution is established early during leaf development, already before...
Development and spatial pattern formation are inherently linked. The coordinated determination of cell fates is crucial in any developmental process requires extensive intercellular communication. Plants cells exchange many molecular signals via the symplasmic pathway, i.e., plasmodesmata: narrow channels connecting cytoplasm neighbouring cells. Regulation transport vital for normal plant development, mutations that disrupt this regulation often embryo or seedling lethal. In tissues, small...
In eukaryotes, messenger RNA (mRNA) accumulation is regulated through the levels of transcription, processing, and degradation. Here, we uncover multi-level regulatory mechanism governing expression NIP5;1, a boron (B) diffusion facilitator in Arabidopsis. B-dependent NIP5;1 mRNA degradation triggered by ribosome stalling at an AUGUAA sequence its 5'-untranslated region. We showed that deletion ATGTAA also abolishes transcriptional downregulation, revealing dual role this both control. Small...
Cell polarization is an important part of the response eukaryotic cells to stimuli, and forms a primary step in cell motility, differentiation, many cellular functions. Among biochemical players implicated onset intracellular asymmetries that constitute early phases are Rho GTPases, such as Cdc42, Rac, Rho, which present high active concentration levels spatially localized manner. GTPases exhibit positive feedback-driven interconversion between distinct inactive forms, former residing on...
In developmental biology, there has been a recent focus on the robustness of morphogen gradients as possible providers positional information. It was shown that functional present strong biophysical constraints and lack to noise. Here we explore how details mechanism which underlies generation gradient can influence those properties. We contrast three gradient-generating mechanisms, (i) source-decay mechanism; (ii) unidirectional transport (iii) so-called reflux-loop mechanism. Focusing...
An auxin maximum is positioned along the xylem axis of Arabidopsis root tip. The pattern depends on mutual feedback between and cytokinins mediated by PIN class efflux transporters AHP6, an inhibitor cytokinin signalling. This interaction has been proposed to regulate size position hormones' respective signalling domains specify distinct boundaries them. To understand dynamics this regulatory network, we implemented a parsimonious computational model transport that considers hormonal...
Boron, an essential micronutrient, is transported in roots of Arabidopsis thaliana mainly by two different types transporters, BORs and NIPs (nodulin26-like intrinsic proteins). Both are plasma membrane localized, but have distinct transport properties patterns cell type-specific accumulation with polar localizations, which likely to affect boron distribution. Here, we used mathematical modeling experimental determination address distributions the root. A computational model root created at...
Abstract. In the current study we present a Gompertzian model for cell growth as function of phenotype using six human tumour lines (A‐549, NCI‐H596, NCI‐H520, HT‐29, SW‐620 and U‐251). Monolayer cells in exponential at various densities were quantified over week by sulforhodamine B staining assay to produce cell‐growth curves. A Gompertz equation was fitted experimental data obtain, each line, three empirical parameters (initial density, rate carrying capacity – maximal density). cell‐shape...
Nutrient uptake by roots often involves substrate-dependent regulated nutrient transporters. For robust uptake, the system requires a regulatory circuit within cells and collective, coordinated behaviour across tissue. A paradigm for such systems is boron known its directional transport homeostasis, as essential plant growth but toxic at high concentrations. In Arabidopsis thaliana, occurs via diffusion facilitators (NIPs) exporters (BORs), each presenting distinct polarity. Intriguingly,...