Project description:The role of bark storage proteins (BSPs) in seasonal N storage and cycling has been well documented. However, the regulatory mechanisms and pathways associated with this physiological process are poorly understood. The objective of this study is to investigate global patterns of gene expression associated with photoperiod regulated BSP accumulation and to identify candidate genes, pathways and regulatory factors governing N storage and cycling in poplar. In this study, differential expression of protease inhibitors, proteases, transcription factors, and other genes coincided with increased BSP gene expression, suggesting a complex regulatory network that might play an important role in BSP accumulation. Bark of Populus trichocarpa (Nisqually-1) was collected at weekly intervals for 6 weeks from plants treated with short-day (SD) photoperiods at 20°C as well as from long-day (LD) grown plants immediately before the SD treatment.
Project description:The role of bark storage proteins (BSPs) in seasonal N storage and cycling has been well documented. However, the regulatory mechanisms and pathways associated with this physiological process are poorly understood. The objective of this study is to investigate global patterns of gene expression associated with photoperiod regulated BSP accumulation and to identify candidate genes, pathways and regulatory factors governing N storage and cycling in poplar. In this study, differential expression of protease inhibitors, proteases, transcription factors, and other genes coincided with increased BSP gene expression, suggesting a complex regulatory network that might play an important role in BSP accumulation.
Project description:The present project deals with bark beetle gut total proteome from callow and black bark beetle, Ips typographus. The study aims to identify life stage-specific expression of gut proteins in bark beetles and their functional relevance.
Project description:Seasonal nitrogen (N) storage and reuse is important to the N-use efficiency of temperate deciduous trees. In poplar, bark storage proteins (BSPs) accumulate in protein storage vacuoles of the bark parenchyma and xylem ray cells in the fall. During spring growth, N from stored BSPs is remobilized and utilized by growing shoots. The goal of this study is to investigate global gene expression changes in the bark during BSP remobilization and shoot regrowth under long-day conditions.
Project description:Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) of the genera Heterorhabditis are obligate and lethal insect parasites. In recent years they have been used increasingly as biological control agents. These EPNs are symbiotically associated with bacteria of the genera Photorhabdus. The bacterial symbionts are essential to kill the host (within 24-48 hours) and digest its tissues to provide nutrients for themselves as well for expanding nematodes. Drosophila larvae are suitable insect hosts and part of the tripartite model system we used before to show the importance of haemolymph clotting and eicosanoids during the infection. We used the well-established tripartite model (Drosophila, nematodes, bacteria), DNA chips and bioinformatic tools to compare gene expression in non-infected and infected fly larvae. We focused on the early time point of nematode infection and therefore infected Drosophila larvae using H. bacteriophora harbouring GFP-labelled P. luminescens bacteria. Infected (GFP positive) larvae were collected 6 hours after infection.