Projects
Signal transduction and oxidative stress in Arabidopsis thaliana exposed to toxic concentrations of cadmium and/or copper. Hasselt University
Regulation of acute responses in cadmium-exposed Arabidopsis thaliana plants. From signal transduction to acclimation Hasselt University
Novel functions for Arabidopsis thaliana plant defensins KU Leuven
Plant defensins (PDFs) are small, cysteine-rich peptides that are structurally related to insect and mammalian defensins. They were originally isolated based on their antifungal activity and consequently believed to play a crucial role in the innate immune system of plants. However,accumulating evidence suggests additional in vivo functions for those peptides in general plant development. Surprisingly, however, no clear evidence for any of ...
Functional analysis of novel stress-induced peptides in Arabidopsis thaliana. KU Leuven
A systems-based approach to unravel the role of the trehalase enzyme in Arabidopsis thaliana. KU Leuven
A fast neutron bombardment mutant screen of Arabidopsis thaliana to reveal genes implicated in signalling of metal stress. Hasselt University
Study of ubiquitination of the key proteins in the jasmonate signal transduction cascades of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana Ghent University
We will study E3 Ubiquitin ligases from the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana that are putatively involved in jasmonate signalling. We aim to (1) identify their actual substrates, (2) acquire mechanistic insight in how they are regulated themselves,and interact and ubiquitinate these targets, and (3) phenotypically characterise Arabidopsis plants with altered expression in these E3 Ub ligases to establish their precise role at the whole plant ...
Towards mapping key processes modulated by T-DNA ORFs from rhizogenic Agrobacterium during hairy root development in Arabidopsis thaliana KU Leuven
Rhizogenic agrobacteria cause hairy root disease (HRD) in several important hydroponically grown crops by transferring part of their DNA (T-DNA) into the plant’s genome. In my previous research, using a composite plant assay, I analyzed the plant root response upon T-DNA transformation and identified several signaling peptides having a role in hairy root development. I also confirmed that most of the T-DNA encoded proteins contributed, to ...
Identification of the targets of the RGLG-type E3 ubiquitin ligases from Arabidopsis thaliana Ghent University
The E3 ubiquitin ligases from the RGLG family in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana are involved in the signalling cascades triggered by the hormones auxin and jasmonate to modulate growth, development and defence. We will map the interactome of the RGLG proteins and identify targets or regulators. The role and functionality of the RGLG-interactors in phytohormone signalling will be assessed.