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Evolution at work: turning hydrolases into phosphorylases for the cost-efficient synthesis of glycosidic bonds. Ghent University

Although phosphorylases are attractive biocatalysts for glycoside synthesis, the small number of available specificities (<20) limits their general use. In this project, a mutational strategy will be developed to turn hydrolases into phosphorylases by mimicking their evolutionary pathways. In that way, it should become possible to recruit the much larger diversity of hydrolase specificities (>200) for synthetic purposes.

U+201CDESTINYU+201D Fate and function of metacaspase substrates. Ghent University

Frank Van Breusegem

Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics

This project will study the functionalities of the plant protease METACASPASE9 within the context of lateral root formation. Therefore, we will assess whether METACASPASE9 substrates, after cleavage, obtain a new function or degrade. Studying the physiological consequences of such a neofunctionalisation will lead to better insights in the molecular mechanisms underlying lateral root formation.

Protein interplay during the establishment of arbuscular mycorrhiza: revealing the function of tomato root proteins interacting with fungal plant effectors Ghent University

Sofie Goormachtig

Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Department of Biochemistry and microbiology

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form mutualistic associations with more than 80% of all land plants. This symbiotic interaction is established by a strict controlled exchange of signals whereby the fungus also needs to repress the plantU+2019s defense respon

Investigation of the molecular mechanism of terpene secretion by plant specific ABC transporters Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Steven De Gieter

Department of Bio-engineering Sciences

Plants are chemical factories. They produce specialized metabolites including aromas, flavors and bioactive compounds making them of interest to the various industries. These metabolites play an important role in protection, competition and interaction with their environment. When specialized metabolites accumulate in high amounts, they can be toxic for the plant cells. One way to avoid self- toxicity, is by excreting these metabolites into ...

Combined process of Steam Explosion and Microbial detoxification for improved PREtreatment of lignocellulose biomass (SEMPRE). University of Antwerp

Iris Cornet

Biochemical Wastewater Valorization & Engineering (BioWaVE)

During the thermochemical pretreatment biotechnological production of chemicals from the polysaccharides in lignocellulose, a solid fraction is obtained, consisting mainly of cellulose, and a lignin waste stream, the so-called, xylose rich fraction (XRF). XRF contains some residual sugar, toxic lignin-derived phenolic and sugar-derived furans. The goal of the research project is to investigate a technique to obtain almost complete removal of ...

Elucidating the role of alternative trans-splicing in the mRNA abundance regulation of Leishmania. University of Antwerp

Bart Cuypers

ADReM Data Lab (ADReM)

Leishmania is a genus of protozoan parasites that cause the disease leishmaniasis in humans and a wide array of vertebrate animals. The parasite exhibits a remarkable gene expression system where genes lack individual RNA polymerase II promoters and are therefore not individually controllable by transcription factors. Instead, genes are transcribed constitutively in long polycistronic units of functionally unrelated genes and ...

The cascade effect of PFAAs. Study of the transcriptional response of Canaries to PFAAs and the relationships with effects in successive levels of biological organization. University of Antwerp

Ana Lopez Antia

Behavioural Ecology & Ecophysiology

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are highly persistent substances that are found globally in the enviroment, wildlife and humans. Despite the ubiquity of PFAAs, their toxicological and biological effects have not yet been well characterized. We will study the transcriptional response of Canaries exposed to enviromentally realistic concentrations of PFAAs using high throughput sequencing. With this we will be able to assess the molecular key events ...

Identification of cell wall ligands for the root hair growth regulator ERULUS. University of Antwerp

Sébastjen Schoenaers

Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research (IMPRES)

Plant cell growth ultimately relies on controlled loosening/strengthening of the cell wall, yielding a matrix that is not too stiff, yet not too loose. Plants have evolved specific mechanisms to sense and control cell wall composition and rigidity, in the form of cell wall binding receptor proteins. In this regard, the Catharanthus roseus Receptor-like Kinase 1-like (CrRLK1L) family of plant proteins has gained major attention during recent ...

Detoxification ability of Rhodococcus sp. on the lignin-rich waste stream after steam-explosion (DARLignin). University of Antwerp