Functional analysis of the sugar based signalling process coordinating plant cell wall, primary metabolism and photosynthesis

Project Information

PLANT CELL WALL

Grant agreement ID: 237636

Project closed

Start date 1 March 2009

End date 28 February 2011

Funded under

• Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

Total cost € 0,00

EU contribution € 171 300,62

Coordinated by

IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE
United Kingdom

Objective

Photosynthesis enables the plant to capture solar energy and to store it in form of sugars in the plant cell wall. Therefore plant cell walls are of particular interest in terms of optimization of energy biomass characteristics and yield. The so-called cell wall integrity mechanism monitors the state of the plant cell wall and initiates changes in its structure and composition to maintain the functional integrity. The proposed research focuses on the dissection of this mechanism by analysing the cross-talk between cell wall stress response and primary metabolism / photosynthesis. To investigate the role of sugars in the signal transduction of the cell wall stress response, I will establish the FRET-based nanosensor technique to visualise sugars in planta using Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings and determine changes in sugar concentrations in response to cellulose biosynthesis inhibition (CBI, caused by isoxaben). In addition, I will investigate the role of a cell wall invertase (ATCWINV6) in sugar signalling processes during CBI. Therefore, a detailed phenotypic characterisation of mutant plants and functional analysis of the gene / protein will be performed. To determine the effects of cell wall stress on plant metabolism I will perform detailed metabolic profiling of wildtype Arabidopsis seedlings exposed to CBI in combination with expression profiling of photosynthesis and starch metabolism genes. Furthermore, selected mutants involved in the cell wall stress response will be analysed regarding changes in sugar concentrations and metabolic effects in response to CBI. The results of this project will contribute to the understanding of the cell wall integrity mechanism that can change / regulate the quality of biomass. By shining light on the regulatory connection between cellulose biosynthesis and metabolism / photosynthesis this project will help to develop novel strategies to improve biomass quantity.

Fields of science

• engineering and technology › environmental engineering › energy and fuels › renewable energy › solar energy
• natural sciences › biological sciences › biochemistry › biomolecules › proteins
• natural sciences › mathematics › pure mathematics › mathematical analysis › functional analysis
• agricultural sciences › agricultural biotechnology › biomass
• natural sciences › biological sciences › botany

Keywords

• Arabidopsis thaliana
• FRET-based nanosensors
• cell wall invertase
• cellulose biosynthesis inhibition (CBI)
• isoxaben
• metabolic profiling
• photosynthesis
• plant cell wall
• primary metabolism
• sugar

Programme(s)

• FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

Topic(s)

• PEOPLE-2007-2-1.IEF - Marie Curie Action: "Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development"

Call for proposal

FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF)

Coordinator

IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE

• EU contribution: € 171 300,62
• Address: SOUTH KENSINGTON CAMPUS EXHIBITION ROAD ; SW7 2AZ LONDON ; United Kingdom
• Region: London › Inner London — West › Westminster
• Activity type: Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
• Administrative Contact: Brooke Alasya (Ms.)
• Total cost: No data