- Seminars - maillist.psb.ugent.be

Seminar Dr Annabelle Haudry on Monday, October 7 at 11 am
by Delphine Verspeel 30 Sep '13

30 Sep '13

You are receiving this e-mail because you subscribed to our seminars announcements and reminders service at https://maillist.psb.ugent.be/mailman/listinfo/seminars . If you do not wish to receive this information anymore, please unsubscribe from future mailings at https://maillist.psb.ugent.be/mailman/options/seminars . cid:946540515@15122008-0D1CPSBcid:946540515@15122008-0D23 VIB - Department of Plant Systems Biology Technologiepark 927 B - 9052 Gent/Zwijnaarde Phone: +32 9 33 13 800 Fax: +32 9 33 13 809 Http://www.psb.vib-ugent.be

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PSB event reminder
by contact＠psb.vib-ugent.be 30 Sep '13

30 Sep '13

Calendar Name: seminars Scheduled for: Wednesday, October 2 2013, 14:00 - 15:30 Event text: Prof Yves Van de Peer VIB, Dept. of Plant Systems Biology Ghent University Gent BELGIUM Details: "I, robot. Using novel bio-inspired principles to improve adaptability of evolutionary robots in dynamically changing environments" ABSTRACT One of the important challenges in the field of evolutionary robotics is the development of systems that can adapt to changing environments. However, adaptation to a changing or fluctuating environment, characteristic of a complex adaptive system (CAS), is not straightforward and usually requires a dynamic and preferentially robust solution. In this study, we explore the adaptive potential of simulated robots that contain a genomic encoding of a gene regulatory network (GRN). This hard-wired (static) genomic encoding is combined with an agent-based system, which transduces environmental cues into phenotypic behaviour. Using a simulation framework that mimics a dynamically changing environment, we demonstrate that the combination of a genomic encoding of the GRN and an agent based system has several advantages over more traditional approaches. Indeed, separating the static from the conditionally active part of the network allows changes to affect parts of the static network, generating diversity that might later prove beneficial in a different environment, while not affecting the part of the GRN that is currently active. Furthermore, beneficial network re-wiring in the static genome provides a memory imprint that allows faster re-adaptation to a situation encountered previously. Applying these evolutionary-based principles increases the potential to evolve and adapt in a non-stable environment.

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Postdoc Innovation Seminar on Thursday, October 3 at 2 pm
by Delphine Verspeel 26 Sep '13

26 Sep '13

You are receiving this e-mail because you subscribed to our seminars announcements and reminders service at https://maillist.psb.ugent.be/mailman/listinfo/seminars . If you do not wish to receive this information anymore, please unsubscribe from future mailings at https://maillist.psb.ugent.be/mailman/options/seminars . cid:946540515@15122008-0D1CPSBcid:946540515@15122008-0D23 VIB - Department of Plant Systems Biology Technologiepark 927 B - 9052 Gent/Zwijnaarde Phone: +32 9 33 13 800 Fax: +32 9 33 13 809 Http://www.psb.vib-ugent.be

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Seminar Prof Yves Van de Peer on Wednesday, October 2 at 2 pm
by Delphine Verspeel 26 Sep '13

26 Sep '13

You are receiving this e-mail because you subscribed to our seminars announcements and reminders service at https://maillist.psb.ugent.be/mailman/listinfo/seminars . If you do not wish to receive this information anymore, please unsubscribe from future mailings at https://maillist.psb.ugent.be/mailman/options/seminars . cid:946540515@15122008-0D1CPSBcid:946540515@15122008-0D23 VIB - Department of Plant Systems Biology Technologiepark 927 B - 9052 Gent/Zwijnaarde Phone: +32 9 33 13 800 Fax: +32 9 33 13 809 Http://www.psb.vib-ugent.be

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PSB event reminder
by contact＠psb.vib-ugent.be 26 Sep '13

26 Sep '13

Calendar Name: seminars Scheduled for: Thursday, September 26 2013, 11:00 - 12:30 Event text: Dr Jenny Russinova VIB, Dept. of Plant Systems Biology Ghent University Gent BELGIUM Details: �Integration and specificity in brassinosteroid signaling� ABSTRACT Perception of different signals and their integration into appropriate responses is an essential element of the living plant cell, requiring robust yet adaptable biochemical networks. These networks are largely composed of proteins that can interact, move to specific cellular locations, be modified or degraded. The integration of these events often leads to activation or inactivation of downstream transcription factors, which then induce or repress genes. The main interest of the group is to use the brassinosteroid signaling as a model system and to address the question how specificity and integration is achieved at the cellular level. Our resent research revealed that brassinosteroid signaling pathway shares signaling components with the signaling pathway controlling stomatal development in the leaf and hypocotyl epidermis (Gudesblat et al., 2012, Nature Cell Biol.). Conversely, incorporation of shared signaling components into distinct protein complexes through scaffolding molecules and localization of the pathways to different cellular compartments can also ensure crosstalk. Endomembrane trafficking is an integral part of signal transduction as it attenuates signaling and provides spatial and temporal dimensions to signaling events. BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1 perceives its ligand, the brassinosteroid hormone at the cell surface and is constitutively endocytosed. We recently uncover the importance of endocytosis for brassinosteroid signaling. A bioactive, fluorescent brassinosteroid was developed and used to visualize endocytosis of brassinosteroid receptor-ligand complexes in living cells. Clathrin- , AP-2- and ARF GEF-dependent endocytic regulation of brassinosteroid signaling from the plasma membrane was postulated (Irani et al., 2012 Nature Chem. Biol.; Di Rubbo et al., 2013 Pant Cell).

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PSB event reminder
by contact＠psb.vib-ugent.be 24 Sep '13

24 Sep '13

Calendar Name: seminars Scheduled for: Thursday, September 26 2013, 11:00 - 12:30 Event text: Dr Jenny Russinova VIB, Dept. of Plant Systems Biology Ghent University Gent BELGIUM Details: �Integration and specificity in brassinosteroid signaling� ABSTRACT Perception of different signals and their integration into appropriate responses is an essential element of the living plant cell, requiring robust yet adaptable biochemical networks. These networks are largely composed of proteins that can interact, move to specific cellular locations, be modified or degraded. The integration of these events often leads to activation or inactivation of downstream transcription factors, which then induce or repress genes. The main interest of the group is to use the brassinosteroid signaling as a model system and to address the question how specificity and integration is achieved at the cellular level. Our resent research revealed that brassinosteroid signaling pathway shares signaling components with the signaling pathway controlling stomatal development in the leaf and hypocotyl epidermis (Gudesblat et al., 2012, Nature Cell Biol.). Conversely, incorporation of shared signaling components into distinct protein complexes through scaffolding molecules and localization of the pathways to different cellular compartments can also ensure crosstalk. Endomembrane trafficking is an integral part of signal transduction as it attenuates signaling and provides spatial and temporal dimensions to signaling events. BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1 perceives its ligand, the brassinosteroid hormone at the cell surface and is constitutively endocytosed. We recently uncover the importance of endocytosis for brassinosteroid signaling. A bioactive, fluorescent brassinosteroid was developed and used to visualize endocytosis of brassinosteroid receptor-ligand complexes in living cells. Clathrin- , AP-2- and ARF GEF-dependent endocytic regulation of brassinosteroid signaling from the plasma membrane was postulated (Irani et al., 2012 Nature Chem. Biol.; Di Rubbo et al., 2013 Pant Cell).

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Seminar Prof Yves Van de Peer on Friday, September 20 at 2 pm
by Delphine Verspeel 19 Sep '13

19 Sep '13

You are receiving this e-mail because you subscribed to our seminars announcements and reminders service at https://maillist.psb.ugent.be/mailman/listinfo/seminars . If you do not wish to receive this information anymore, please unsubscribe from future mailings at https://maillist.psb.ugent.be/mailman/options/seminars . cid:946540515@15122008-0D1CPSBcid:946540515@15122008-0D23 VIB - Department of Plant Systems Biology Technologiepark 927 B - 9052 Gent/Zwijnaarde Phone: +32 9 33 13 800 Fax: +32 9 33 13 809 Http://www.psb.vib-ugent.be

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PSB event reminder
by contact＠psb.vib-ugent.be 18 Sep '13

18 Sep '13

Calendar Name: seminars Scheduled for: Friday, September 20 2013, 14:00 - 15:30 Event text: Prof Yves Van de Peer VIB, Dept. of Plant Systems Biology Ghent University Gent BELGIUM Details: "I, robot. Using novel bio-inspired principles to improve adaptability of evolutionary robots in dynamically changing environments" ABSTRACT One of the important challenges in the field of evolutionary robotics is the development of systems that can adapt to changing environments. However, adaptation to a changing or fluctuating environment, characteristic of a complex adaptive system (CAS), is not straightforward and usually requires a dynamic and preferentially robust solution. In this study, we explore the adaptive potential of simulated robots that contain a genomic encoding of a gene regulatory network (GRN). This hard-wired (static) genomic encoding is combined with an agent-based system, which transduces environmental cues into phenotypic behaviour. Using a simulation framework that mimics a dynamically changing environment, we demonstrate that the combination of a genomic encoding of the GRN and an agent based system has several advantages over more traditional approaches. Indeed, separating the static from the conditionally active part of the network allows changes to affect parts of the static network, generating diversity that might later prove beneficial in a different environment, while not affecting the part of the GRN that is currently active. Furthermore, beneficial network re-wiring in the static genome provides a memory imprint that allows faster re-adaptation to a situation encountered previously. Applying these evolutionary-based principles increases the potential to evolve and adapt in a non-stable environment.

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Seminar Dr Jenny Russinova on Thursday, September 26 at 11 am
by Delphine Verspeel 16 Sep '13

16 Sep '13

You are receiving this e-mail because you subscribed to our seminars announcements and reminders service at https://maillist.psb.ugent.be/mailman/listinfo/seminars . If you do not wish to receive this information anymore, please unsubscribe from future mailings at https://maillist.psb.ugent.be/mailman/options/seminars . cid:946540515@15122008-0D1CPSBcid:946540515@15122008-0D23 VIB - Department of Plant Systems Biology Technologiepark 927 B - 9052 Gent/Zwijnaarde Phone: +32 9 33 13 800 Fax: +32 9 33 13 809 Http://www.psb.vib-ugent.be

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PSB event reminder
by contact＠psb.vib-ugent.be 11 Sep '13

11 Sep '13

Calendar Name: seminars Scheduled for: Wednesday, September 11 2013, 11:00 - 12:30 Event text: Em. Prof Marc Van Montagu VIB Ghent University IPBO Gent BELGIUM Details: �Science & Technology and the Social and Economic Importance of GM-Crops� ABSTRACT The discovery and use of Agrobacterium mediated gene transfer to plants brought the tools for studying the molecular basis of plant basic physiology, growth and development, stress response and information on the establishment of ecological niches of plant species. Genomic studies taught us that the plant genome, unlike the Mendelian concept of mid 20th century, is a quite dynamic structure full of rearrangements and translocations. The fast adaptation of phenotypes is a very complex process controlled by a diversity of regulatory RNA's and peptides. There was immediately great interest in using this new transgene technology for the production of improved and high yielding crops, better adapted to different agro-ecological environments. This is indeed an urgent need because the unprecedented population growth and the inequity in resource availability generated huge famines, massive deforestation and intensive industrial pollution in the last century. Despite the Green Revolution, more than a billion people today are still undernourished and half of the world population lives in deep poverty. Unfortunately, political movements started spreading disinformation on plant biotechnology, and over the years opposition against GM-crops grew in many European countries, blocking further applications of the technology in Europe and by extension in many developing countries. This moratorium was established without proof of any danger for the health of humans or other vertebrates, or detriment to the environment. The 170 million ha GM-crops now cultivated yearly in a limited number of countries, comprise only corn, soy, cotton and some canola. Only six multinational companies provide the seeds and extension services. How could such an anti-science situation arise? Can a better understanding of the fears and beliefs that guide our decision-making help to engage in a better dialogue with society? How can we turn a fear aversion into a positive action for science and technology? This year the World Food Prize, which recognizes achievements extremely precious for society, was given to the scientists who develop transgenic plants. I hope this recognition will help to convey this important message to society: GM agriculture is our biggest opportunity for having a less environmentally damaging agriculture, while still meeting the food needs of an ever-growing population. Only through cooperation and mutual understanding will it be possible to capture and develop the true potential of this exciting technology, to create a more livable and environmentally stable society. ��______________________________________________________________________________________________ Van Montagu M. (2011) It is a Long Way to GM Agriculture. Annual Review of Plant Biology 62: 1-23

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