- Seminars - maillist.psb.ugent.be

PSB event reminder
by contact＠psb.vib-ugent.be 07 Mar '12

07 Mar '12

Calendar Name: seminars Scheduled for: Friday, March 9 2012, 14:00 - 15:30 Event text: Prof Wout Boerjan VIB, Dept. of Plant Systems Biology Ghent University Gent BELGIUM Details: �Engineering lignin for biofuels� ABSTRACT Lignin is an aromatic polymer that is abundantly present in secondarily-thickened plant cell walls. It confers rigidity to the wall and allows transport of water and solutes through the vascular system. However, lignin plays a negative role in a number of agro-industrial processes, such as pulping and forage digestibility and it is also one of the most important limiting factors in the conversion of plant cell walls to fermentable sugars in the process to liquid bio-fuels. Hence, significant research efforts have been devoted to understand the lignin biosynthesis pathway and the effects of down-regulation of individual steps of this pathway on lignin amount and composition, and on wood properties. These studies have shown that lignin amount and composition can be altered, often without apparent negative consequences for plant health. The first results obtained from poplar field trials will be used to illustrate how lignin engineering can improve biomass processing. Furthermore, we have taken a systems biology approach involving transcriptomics and metabolomics in Arabidopsis to study how the plant, as a biological system, copes with perturbations in the lignin biosynthesis pathway, to reveal regulation within this pathway and to identifying novel genes with potential economic value. Finally, an example will be presented how natural variation in the poplar germplasm can be exploited in a reverse genetics strategy to identify gene function and to accelerate tree genetic improvement.

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PSB event reminder
by contact＠psb.vib-ugent.be 02 Mar '12

02 Mar '12

Calendar Name: seminars Scheduled for: Friday, March 2 2012, 14:00 - 15:30 Event text: Prof Takashi Hashimoto Graduate School of Biological Sciences Nara Institute of Science and Technology Takayama-cho Ikoma JAPAN Details: �Organization of cortical microtubule arrays in Arabidopsis� ABSTRACT Microtubules are nucleated from dispersed cortical regions in interphase plant cells, where the majority of nucleation events occur from the -tubulin-containing sites on the pre-existing microtubules as branching patterns. The minus-ends of newly formed daughter microtubules are usually released from sites of nucleation by the action of the microtubule severing complex katanin, and the free microtubules are then transported on the cortex by polymer treadmilling. Subsequent microtubule-microtubule interactions promote microtubule bundling and ordering, which establishes particular patterns of interphase cortical arrays. With special interests in helical microtubule arrays, we have been studying possible mechanisms and particular molecules that underlie organization of cortical microtubule arrays. M. Nakamura, D. Ehrhardt, and T. Hashimoto (2010) Microtubule and katanin dependent dynamics of microtubule nucleation complexes in the Arabidopsis cortical array. Nature Cell Biol. 12: 1064-1070. M. Nakamura, and T. Hashimoto (2009) A mutation in the Arabidopsis -tubulin-containing complex subunit causes helical growth and abnormal microtubule branching. J. Cell Sci. 122: 2208-2217. T. Ishida, Y. Kaneko, M. Iwano, and T. Hashimoto (2007) Helical microtubule arrays in a collection of twisting tubulin mutants of Arabiodpsis thaliana. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 104: 8544-8549.

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PSB event reminder
by contact＠psb.vib-ugent.be 02 Mar '12

02 Mar '12

Calendar Name: seminars Scheduled for: Friday, March 2 2012, 14:00 - 15:30 Event text: Prof Taku Demura Graduate School of Biological Sciences Nara Institute of Science and Technology Takayama-cho Ikoma JAPAN RIKEN Biomass Engineering Program Suehiro-cho Tsurumi-ku Yokohama JAPAN Details: �Transcriptional regulatory network for woody cellulosic biomass/secondary cell wall production� ABSTRACT Woody cellulosic biomass derived from plant secondary cell walls is one of the most widely utilized natural materials on our planet. Recent researches found several key regulatory genes controlling xylem cell differentiation, such as NAC (VND7, NST1, SND1, etc) and myb (MYB46, MYB83, etc) transcription factors, which comprise a fine transcriptional regulatory network. Based on the finding, we have established several experimental systems for analyzing secondary cell wall formation: Arabidopsis plants and BY-2 cells expressing the VND7 fused to a glucocorticoid-receptor inducibly produce secondary cell walls. I would like to discuss about the possibility to modify quantity and quality of woody biomass using such the basic knowledge. Ohtani et al. (2011) A NAC domain protein family contributing to the regulation of wood formation in poplar. Plant J 67: 499-512. Yamaguchi et al. (2010) VASCULAR-RELATED NAC-DOMAIN6 and VNSCULAR-RELATED NAC-DOMAIN7 effectively induce transdifferentiation into xylem vessel elements under control of an induction system. Plant Physiol 153: 915-924. M. Kubo et al. (2005) Transcription switches for protoxylem and metaxylem vessel formation. Genes Dev. 19: 1855-1860.

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PSB event reminder
by contact＠psb.vib-ugent.be 29 Feb '12

29 Feb '12

Calendar Name: seminars Scheduled for: Friday, March 2 2012, 14:00 - 15:30 Event text: Prof Takashi Hashimoto Graduate School of Biological Sciences Nara Institute of Science and Technology Takayama-cho Ikoma JAPAN Details: �Organization of cortical microtubule arrays in Arabidopsis� ABSTRACT Microtubules are nucleated from dispersed cortical regions in interphase plant cells, where the majority of nucleation events occur from the -tubulin-containing sites on the pre-existing microtubules as branching patterns. The minus-ends of newly formed daughter microtubules are usually released from sites of nucleation by the action of the microtubule severing complex katanin, and the free microtubules are then transported on the cortex by polymer treadmilling. Subsequent microtubule-microtubule interactions promote microtubule bundling and ordering, which establishes particular patterns of interphase cortical arrays. With special interests in helical microtubule arrays, we have been studying possible mechanisms and particular molecules that underlie organization of cortical microtubule arrays. M. Nakamura, D. Ehrhardt, and T. Hashimoto (2010) Microtubule and katanin dependent dynamics of microtubule nucleation complexes in the Arabidopsis cortical array. Nature Cell Biol. 12: 1064-1070. M. Nakamura, and T. Hashimoto (2009) A mutation in the Arabidopsis -tubulin-containing complex subunit causes helical growth and abnormal microtubule branching. J. Cell Sci. 122: 2208-2217. T. Ishida, Y. Kaneko, M. Iwano, and T. Hashimoto (2007) Helical microtubule arrays in a collection of twisting tubulin mutants of Arabiodpsis thaliana. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 104: 8544-8549.

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PSB event reminder
by contact＠psb.vib-ugent.be 29 Feb '12

29 Feb '12

Calendar Name: seminars Scheduled for: Friday, March 2 2012, 14:00 - 15:30 Event text: Prof Taku Demura Graduate School of Biological Sciences Nara Institute of Science and Technology Takayama-cho Ikoma JAPAN RIKEN Biomass Engineering Program Suehiro-cho Tsurumi-ku Yokohama JAPAN Details: �Transcriptional regulatory network for woody cellulosic biomass/secondary cell wall production� ABSTRACT Woody cellulosic biomass derived from plant secondary cell walls is one of the most widely utilized natural materials on our planet. Recent researches found several key regulatory genes controlling xylem cell differentiation, such as NAC (VND7, NST1, SND1, etc) and myb (MYB46, MYB83, etc) transcription factors, which comprise a fine transcriptional regulatory network. Based on the finding, we have established several experimental systems for analyzing secondary cell wall formation: Arabidopsis plants and BY-2 cells expressing the VND7 fused to a glucocorticoid-receptor inducibly produce secondary cell walls. I would like to discuss about the possibility to modify quantity and quality of woody biomass using such the basic knowledge. Ohtani et al. (2011) A NAC domain protein family contributing to the regulation of wood formation in poplar. Plant J 67: 499-512. Yamaguchi et al. (2010) VASCULAR-RELATED NAC-DOMAIN6 and VNSCULAR-RELATED NAC-DOMAIN7 effectively induce transdifferentiation into xylem vessel elements under control of an induction system. Plant Physiol 153: 915-924. M. Kubo et al. (2005) Transcription switches for protoxylem and metaxylem vessel formation. Genes Dev. 19: 1855-1860.

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Seminar Prof Silke Robatzek 12/03
by Delphine Verspeel 27 Feb '12

27 Feb '12

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> 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> https://maillist.psb.ugent.be/mailman/options/seminars. cid:946540515@15122008-0D1C PSB cid: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 Wout Boerjan 9/03
by Delphine Verspeel 27 Feb '12

27 Feb '12

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> 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> https://maillist.psb.ugent.be/mailman/options/seminars. cid:946540515@15122008-0D1C PSB cid: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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FW: Seminar Prof Jeroen Raes
by Delphine Verspeel 27 Feb '12

27 Feb '12

REMINDER From: Delphine Verspeel [mailto:despe@psb.ugent.be] Sent: dinsdag 21 februari 2012 13:23 To: 'all(a)psb.vib-ugent.be'; 'users(a)dmbr.UGent.be' Subject: Seminar Prof Jeroen Raes Dear All, Prof Jeroen Raes from the University of Brussels (VIB) will give a seminar On Tuesday, February 28 at 11am. Enclosed you can find more information. Kind regards, Delphine ____________________________________________ Delphine Verspeel Administrative Assistant VIB, Department of Plant Systems Biology Ghent University Technologiepark 927 9052 Gent Belgium Phone: +32/9/33.13.800 Fax: +32/9/33.13.809 Http://www.psb.ugent.be <http://www.psb.ugent.be/> despe(a)psb.vib-ugent.be <mailto:nahau@psb.vib-ugent.be>

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PSB event reminder
by contact＠psb.vib-ugent.be 27 Feb '12

27 Feb '12

Calendar Name: seminars Scheduled for: Monday, February 27 2012, 11:00 - 12:30 Event text: Prof Christian Hermans Lab of Plant Physiology and Molecular Genetics Universit� Libre de Bruxelles Brussels BELGIUM Details: �Molecular and physiological basis of plant nutrition: Insights into the responses to magnesium and nitrate availability.� ABSTRACT Crop nutrition can be manipulated through agronomy and genetics, to optimize biomass allocation and thereby crop yields, and the delivery of essential mineral nutrients to humans and livestock. Our primary research goal is to dissect and exploit the physiological and genetic bases for plant mineral nutrient use efficiency (NUE). (i) The first focus is on magnesium, which is an essential element in plant cell biology but also the fourth most common cation in the human body and half of its dietary intake is from plant origin. Hypomagnesaemia in the human body is recognized as a global clinical problem. Our primary interest is to identify genes involved in Mg homeostasis in the model species Arabidopsis thaliana. To achieve this goal, our experimental outlines are to use natural and mutant-induced changes in Mg content and to identify transcriptome changes associated with Mg depletion and restoration. (ii) The second focus is on nitrate since it is the major nutritional determinant of root morphology, and because of its agronomic significance in determining yield and seed set. Modifying root system architecture (RSA) is one of the strategies aimed at developing plants that capture nutrients more efficiently, which are suited for sustainable farming with less fertilizer inputs. Learning about mechanisms of lateral roots (LRs) growth stimulation or repression by nitrate availability will help to draw strategies to modify RSA. Low nitrate levels in the soil stimulate lateral root development, which substantially increases the root surface area available for acquisition. Conversely, homogeneous high levels of nitrate inhibit lateral root elongation. We are trying to gain better knowledge about these nitrate-dependent changes in root morphology of Arabidopsis. Forward genetic dissections (mutant screens) and genome-wide association mapping are currently used to identify key genes that determine RSA and root biomass allocation. Our applied ambition is to transfer the benefits from Arabidopsis research to Brassica crops. Comparative genomics through a model-to-crop pipeline will allow key genes controlling root architecture traits and mineral content to be studied in crop systems.

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PSB event reminder
by contact＠psb.vib-ugent.be 25 Feb '12

25 Feb '12

Calendar Name: seminars Scheduled for: Monday, February 27 2012, 11:00 - 12:30 Event text: Prof Christian Hermans Lab of Plant Physiology and Molecular Genetics Universit� Libre de Bruxelles Brussels BELGIUM Details: �Molecular and physiological basis of plant nutrition: Insights into the responses to magnesium and nitrate availability.� ABSTRACT Crop nutrition can be manipulated through agronomy and genetics, to optimize biomass allocation and thereby crop yields, and the delivery of essential mineral nutrients to humans and livestock. Our primary research goal is to dissect and exploit the physiological and genetic bases for plant mineral nutrient use efficiency (NUE). (i) The first focus is on magnesium, which is an essential element in plant cell biology but also the fourth most common cation in the human body and half of its dietary intake is from plant origin. Hypomagnesaemia in the human body is recognized as a global clinical problem. Our primary interest is to identify genes involved in Mg homeostasis in the model species Arabidopsis thaliana. To achieve this goal, our experimental outlines are to use natural and mutant-induced changes in Mg content and to identify transcriptome changes associated with Mg depletion and restoration. (ii) The second focus is on nitrate since it is the major nutritional determinant of root morphology, and because of its agronomic significance in determining yield and seed set. Modifying root system architecture (RSA) is one of the strategies aimed at developing plants that capture nutrients more efficiently, which are suited for sustainable farming with less fertilizer inputs. Learning about mechanisms of lateral roots (LRs) growth stimulation or repression by nitrate availability will help to draw strategies to modify RSA. Low nitrate levels in the soil stimulate lateral root development, which substantially increases the root surface area available for acquisition. Conversely, homogeneous high levels of nitrate inhibit lateral root elongation. We are trying to gain better knowledge about these nitrate-dependent changes in root morphology of Arabidopsis. Forward genetic dissections (mutant screens) and genome-wide association mapping are currently used to identify key genes that determine RSA and root biomass allocation. Our applied ambition is to transfer the benefits from Arabidopsis research to Brassica crops. Comparative genomics through a model-to-crop pipeline will allow key genes controlling root architecture traits and mineral content to be studied in crop systems.

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