A5063175542- Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism
- Plant Molecular Biology Research
- Plant Reproductive Biology
- Ion Transport and Channel Regulation
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Plant Stress Responses and Tolerance
- Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Membrane-based Ion Separation Techniques
- Adolescent and Pediatric Healthcare
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Plant tissue culture and regeneration
- Plant Gene Expression Analysis
- Plant Micronutrient Interactions and Effects
- Plant and animal studies
- Plant responses to elevated CO2
- Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques
- Magnetic and Electromagnetic Effects
- Bioenergy crop production and management
- Plant responses to water stress
- Seed Germination and Physiology
- Algal biology and biofuel production
- RNA modifications and cancer
- Child and Adolescent Health
- Plant Genetic and Mutation Studies
University College Hospital
2021-2025
ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems
2020-2024
Australian National University
2015-2024
University College London
2019-2024
Grains Research and Development Corporation
2024
Australian Research Council
2016-2023
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
2011-2020
Agriculture and Food
2016-2020
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
2019
ACT Government
2011-2016
Intraspecific hybrids between the Arabidopsis thaliana accessions C24 and Landsberg erecta have strong heterosis. The reciprocal show a decreased level of 24-nt small RNA (sRNA) relative to parents with decrease greatest for those loci where had markedly different sRNA levels. genomic regions reduced levels were largely associated genes their flanking indicating potential effect on gene expression. We identified several examples altered that showed correlated changes in DNA methylation...
The heterotic hybrid offspring of Arabidopsis accessions C24 and Landsberg erecta have altered methylomes. Changes occur most frequently at loci where parental methylation levels are different. There context-specific biases in the nonadditive patterns with m CG generally increased CHH decreased relative to parents. These changes a result two main mechanisms, Trans Chromosomal Methylation deMethylation, level one allele alters resemble that other parent. Regions enriched around genic regions...
Plant hybrids are extensively used in agriculture to deliver increases yields, yet the molecular basis of their superior performance (heterosis) is not well understood. Our transcriptome analysis a number Arabidopsis F1 identified changes defense and stress response gene expression consistent with reduction basal levels. Given reported antagonism between plant immunity growth, we suggest that these altered patterns contribute greater growth hybrids. The indicate decreases salicylic acid (SA)...
The dynamics of leaf photosynthesis in fluctuating light affects carbon gain by plants. Mesophyll conductance (gm) limits CO2 assimilation rate (A) under the steady state, but extent this limitation non-steady-state conditions is unknown. In present study, we aimed to characterize gm and limitations A imposed gas diffusional biochemical processes light. induction responses A, stomatal (gs), gm, maximum RuBP carboxylation (Vcmax) or electron transport (J) were investigated Arabidopsis...
Photosynthetic manipulation provides new opportunities for enhancing crop yield. However, understanding and quantifying the importance of individual multiple manipulations on seasonal biomass growth yield performance target crops across variable production environments is limited. Using a state-of-the-art cross-scale model in APSIM platform we predicted impact altering photosynthesis enzyme-limited (Ac ) electron transport-limited (Aj rates, dynamics canopy photosynthesis, growth, formation...
The Arabidopsis gynoecium is a complex organ that facilitates fertilization, later developing into dehiscent silique protects seeds until their dispersal. Identifying genes important for development often hampered by functional redundancy. We report unequal redundancy between two closely related genes, SPATULA (SPT) and ALCATRAZ (ALC), revealing previously unknown developmental roles each. SPT known to support septum, style stigma in the flower, whereas ALC involved dehiscence zone fruit....
SPATULA is a bHLH transcription factor that promotes growth of tissues arising from the carpel margins, including septum and transmitting tract. It also involved in repressing germination newly harvested seeds, inhibiting cotyledon, leaf, petal expansion. Using reporter gene construct, its expression profile was fully defined. Consistent with known functions, SPT expressed developing margin tissues, hypocotyls cotyledons germinating seedlings, leaves petals. strongly where no functions have...
Abstract Heterosis is important for agriculture; however, little known about the mechanisms driving hybrid vigor. Ultimately, heterosis depends on interactions of specific alleles and epialleles provided by parents, which why hybrids can exhibit different levels heterosis, even within same species. We characterize development several intraspecific Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) F1 that show at maturity. identify phases beginning during embryogenesis culminating in a final phase...
Hybridization in plants leads to transinteractions between the parental genomes and epigenomes that can result changes both 24 nt siRNA cytosine methylation ((m)C) levels hybrid. In Arabidopsis principle processes altering hybrid methylome are Trans Chromosomal Methylation (TCM) deMethylation (TCdM) which (m)C pattern of a genomic segment attains same corresponding on other chromosome. We examined two loci undergo TCM/TCdM C24/Landsberg erecta (Ler) F1 hybrids, show patterns inheritance...
Objectives To conduct a UK-wide survey of young people who have experienced cancer, carers and professionals, to identify prioritise research questions inform decisions funders support the case for with this unique cancer population. Design James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership. UK health service community. Methods A steering group oversaw initiative partner organisations were recruited. Unanswered collected in an online survey. Evidence searching verified uncertainties. An...
The phosphorylation state of two serine residues within the C-terminal domain AtPIP2;1 (S280, S283) regulates its plasma membrane localization in response to salt and osmotic stress. Here, we investigated whether S280 S283 also influence facilitated water cation transport. A series single double phosphomimic phosphonull mutants were tested heterologous systems. In Xenopus laevis oocytes, S280D, S283D, S280D/S283D had significantly greater ion conductance for Na+ K+ , whereas S280A mutant...
A fundamental limitation of photosynthetic carbon fixation is the availability CO 2 . In C 4 plants, primary carboxylation occurs in mesophyll cytosol, and little known about role diffusion facilitating photosynthesis. We have examined expression, localization, functional selected plasma membrane intrinsic aquaporins (PIPs) from Setaria italica (foxtail millet) discovered that SiPIP2;7 -permeable. When ectopically expressed cells viridis (green foxtail), was localized to caused no marked...
Engineering membrane transporters to achieve desired functionality is reliant on availability of experimental data informing structure-function relationships and intelligent design. Plant aquaporin (AQP) isoforms are capable transporting diverse substrates such as signaling molecules, nutrients, metalloids, gases, well water. AQPs can act multifunctional channels their transport function many factors, with few studies having assessed specific for multiple substrates.High-throughput yeast...
The SPATULA (SPT) gene is involved in generating the septum, style and stigma: specialized tissues that arise from carpel margins. By matching sequences within extended bHLH region of AtSPT across species databases, twelve orthologues were identified eudicots, rice a gymnosperm. Two conserved structural domains revealed addition to region: an amphipathic helix acidic domain. These are tomato orthologue, which can restore function spt mutants Arabidopsis. domain essential for SPT function,...
Significance Hybrids have an important role in many crops used for global food production. The increased production levels of biomass and grain are restricted to the first-generation hybrid. We report stabilization hybrid vigor traits pure breeding mimic lines. Comparison patterns their gene activity with those F1 hybrids has identified metabolic pathways associated generation phenotype. mimics homozygous long chromosomal segments showing that heterozygosity is not required heterotic...
Summary Disrupting pollen tube growth and fertilization in Arabidopsis plants leads to reduced seed set silique size, providing a powerful genetic system with which identify genes important roles plant fertility. A transgenic line growth, was used as the progenitor screen isolate suppressors increased size. This generated new allele of INDEHISCENT ( IND ), gene originally identified by its role valve margin development dehiscence (pod shatter). forms part regulatory network that involves...
Hybrid Arabidopsis plants undergo epigenetic reprogramming producing decreased levels of 24-nt siRNAs and altered patterns DNA methylation that can affect gene expression. Driving the changes in are processes trans-chromosomal (TCM) demethylation (TCdM). In TCM/TCdM state one allele is to resemble other allele. We show Pol IV-dependent sRNAs required establish TCM events. The associated sRNA F1 hybrid be maintained subsequent generations hundreds regions F2 epigenome. inheritance these...
Abstract Background Cellular membranes are dynamic structures, continuously adjusting their composition, allowing plants to respond developmental signals, stresses, and changing environments. To facilitate transmembrane transport of substrates, plant embedded with both active passive transporters. Aquaporins (AQPs) constitute a major family membrane spanning channel proteins that selectively the bidirectional passage substrates across biological at an astonishing 10 8 molecules per second....
In plants with C3 photosynthesis, increasing the diffusion conductance for CO2 from substomatal cavity to chloroplast stroma (mesophyll conductance) can improve efficiencies of both assimilation and photosynthetic water use. pathway stroma, plasmalemma envelope membranes impose a considerable barrier diffusion, limiting efficiency. an attempt membrane permeability CO2, increase photosynthesis in tobacco, we generated transgenic lines Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Petite Havana carrying either...
Hybrids are used extensively in agriculture due to their superior performance seed yield and plant growth, yet the molecular mechanisms underpinning hybrid not well understood. Recent evidence has suggested that a decrease basal defense response gene expression regulated by reduced levels of salicylic acid (SA) may be important for vigor certain combinations. Decreasing SA Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) accession C24 through introduction catabolic enzyme salicylate1 hydroxylase (NahG)...