How scissors learn to glue: the catalysis of ligation by proteases. This project proposes to study protein-cutting enzymes from plants that are drawn into biosyntheses where they paradoxically perform protein-joining (ligation) reactions. Enzymes are everywhere, from detergents to digestion to detoxifying drugs. Industry uses artificial evolution to improve enzymes or create enzymes with new activities. By exploring the changes that allowed one such cutting enzyme to ligate, the knowledge acquir ....How scissors learn to glue: the catalysis of ligation by proteases. This project proposes to study protein-cutting enzymes from plants that are drawn into biosyntheses where they paradoxically perform protein-joining (ligation) reactions. Enzymes are everywhere, from detergents to digestion to detoxifying drugs. Industry uses artificial evolution to improve enzymes or create enzymes with new activities. By exploring the changes that allowed one such cutting enzyme to ligate, the knowledge acquired may enable protein engineering to develop designer enzymes with enhanced or suppressed ligating ability. Although protein evolution can be studied with artificial systems, natural systems are extremely valuable. Insights from studying this natural evolution of ligation may test hypotheses developed with data from artificial evolution.Read moreRead less
How do sunflowers make protein drugs in their seeds? We recently discovered in sunflower the origin of a small protein ring that chemists have used for a decade to base designed drugs upon. This project aims to know how sunflowers make it so we may manipulate other plants to manufacture ring-based drugs.
Feasting on protein? Strategies of organic nitrogen acquisition by plant roots. Crops require large amounts of nitrogen for growth. Application of nitrogen fertiliser enhances yield, but causes off-site nitrogen pollution, a main threat to ecosystem integrity. Most nitrogen in soil occurs as organic complexes that are broken down by soil organism into small compounds, which are taken up roots or lost from the soil. This project will generate fundamental knowledge of how an Australian species and ....Feasting on protein? Strategies of organic nitrogen acquisition by plant roots. Crops require large amounts of nitrogen for growth. Application of nitrogen fertiliser enhances yield, but causes off-site nitrogen pollution, a main threat to ecosystem integrity. Most nitrogen in soil occurs as organic complexes that are broken down by soil organism into small compounds, which are taken up roots or lost from the soil. This project will generate fundamental knowledge of how an Australian species and a crop species with unusual root specialisations access soil organic nitrogen, thus increasing the efficiency of nitrogen use and reducing nitrogen loss. The research employs cutting-edge techniques for sustainable resource use, improved efficiency of crops and farming systems, and preservation of Australia's biodiversity.Read moreRead less
Expression profiling of giant cells induced in host plant roots by root-knot nematodes. Root-knot nematodes cause crop losses of over $400 million per annum in Australia. Control by toxic chemical nematicodes is expensive and can pollute groundwater. Benefits from this research for the Australian community are: (i) it will ensure that Australian researchers stay at the forefront of research in plant nematology, (ii) it provides significant local and international linkages that will stimulate res ....Expression profiling of giant cells induced in host plant roots by root-knot nematodes. Root-knot nematodes cause crop losses of over $400 million per annum in Australia. Control by toxic chemical nematicodes is expensive and can pollute groundwater. Benefits from this research for the Australian community are: (i) it will ensure that Australian researchers stay at the forefront of research in plant nematology, (ii) it provides significant local and international linkages that will stimulate research outputs, and (iii) new knowledge will be generated on how plants respond to attack by nematodes - this will generate new intellectual property, leading to better control methods and reduced costs that will support rural communities, and reduce environmental pollution.Read moreRead less
The role of plant hormones in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. The vast majority of plant species can form a beneficial symbiosis with specialised soil fungi, an association that can enhance the uptake of nutrients from the soil, improve tolerance to drought and disease and minimise soil erosion. An understanding of how plants establish and regulate this important symbiosis has the potential to contribute to the development of productive and sustainable farming systems by making efficient use o ....The role of plant hormones in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. The vast majority of plant species can form a beneficial symbiosis with specialised soil fungi, an association that can enhance the uptake of nutrients from the soil, improve tolerance to drought and disease and minimise soil erosion. An understanding of how plants establish and regulate this important symbiosis has the potential to contribute to the development of productive and sustainable farming systems by making efficient use of the limited water resources, reducing soil erosion, reducing reliance on pesticides and fertilisers and producing more nutritious fruits, vegetables and grains.Read moreRead less
Plant Protein Signalling Networks. We will assess the functional role of PNPs (novel plant protein hormones) at a biochemical, molecular and cellular level. Importantly, as stresses from climatic extremes are increasing, this will lead to new insights and critical appreciation of the processes plants use to regulate their water status. Since water and solute status underpins the regulation of plant growth and development, these findings will have a major impact on both agriculture and horticul ....Plant Protein Signalling Networks. We will assess the functional role of PNPs (novel plant protein hormones) at a biochemical, molecular and cellular level. Importantly, as stresses from climatic extremes are increasing, this will lead to new insights and critical appreciation of the processes plants use to regulate their water status. Since water and solute status underpins the regulation of plant growth and development, these findings will have a major impact on both agriculture and horticulture in Australia. The new insights that we gain can be used to directly accelerate progress towards the development of plants with improved drought and salinity tolerance that will lead to better crop and pasture productivity under harsh Australian conditions.Read moreRead less
The Other Side: Long-distance Feedback and Cross-talk in the Arabidopsis Branching Gene Network. Shoot structure in nearly all plants impacts on water relations, yield and sustainability. Isolation of novel genes and plant hormone pathways that affect shoot structure should allow us to capture IP for Australia and enhance plant improvement and sustainability. One of the pathways we will investigate produces glucosinolates, small plant-specific molecules that have considerable value as anti-cance ....The Other Side: Long-distance Feedback and Cross-talk in the Arabidopsis Branching Gene Network. Shoot structure in nearly all plants impacts on water relations, yield and sustainability. Isolation of novel genes and plant hormone pathways that affect shoot structure should allow us to capture IP for Australia and enhance plant improvement and sustainability. One of the pathways we will investigate produces glucosinolates, small plant-specific molecules that have considerable value as anti-cancer agents in humans. Flavonoids, another pathway regulated in our shoot branching lines, also benefit human health. Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers will gain skills in research management, design, ethics and experimental methods pertinent to the growing biotechnology industry in Australia.Read moreRead less
Towards sustainable bioproduction systems: harnessing organic nitrogen for plant growth. It is of great concern that over 50% of nitrogen fertiliser applied to crops is lost to the environment, resulting in a large environmental footprint and greenhouse gas emission. Future farming systems have to reduce nitrogen fertiliser use but this threatens crop and biofuel production. Alternatives to man-made nitrogen fertilisers are crop residues and organic materials which are more stable in soils but l ....Towards sustainable bioproduction systems: harnessing organic nitrogen for plant growth. It is of great concern that over 50% of nitrogen fertiliser applied to crops is lost to the environment, resulting in a large environmental footprint and greenhouse gas emission. Future farming systems have to reduce nitrogen fertiliser use but this threatens crop and biofuel production. Alternatives to man-made nitrogen fertilisers are crop residues and organic materials which are more stable in soils but less available to plants. How plants can best access organic nitrogen will be explored, based on our recent discovery that plants can use protein as a nitrogen source for growth. The project will produce essential knowledge for nitrogen-efficient bioproduction.Read moreRead less
A novel link between plant pathogen defence and DNA repair capability. Plants and plant-based industries are essential for the provision of food, clothing and building materials and underpin the economies of rural communities. Plant yield and quality and the biodiversity of natural systems are dramatically reduced by disease. The fundamental knowledge gained from our research will enable manipulation of the factors that enhance disease resistance resulting in a significant benefit to Australian ....A novel link between plant pathogen defence and DNA repair capability. Plants and plant-based industries are essential for the provision of food, clothing and building materials and underpin the economies of rural communities. Plant yield and quality and the biodiversity of natural systems are dramatically reduced by disease. The fundamental knowledge gained from our research will enable manipulation of the factors that enhance disease resistance resulting in a significant benefit to Australian agriculture and protection of our natural resources. The current reliance for disease control on chemicals that damage the environment will be reduced and our research will contribute directly to the provision of cheaper, simpler and more effective methods of control.
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Generating broad and stable resistance to gemini- and nanoviruses. The ssDNA geminiviruses and nanoviruses are considered a major threat to crop production in the tropics and subtropics. There are currently no effective control strategies for these viruses. We have been developing a novel transgenic strategy for generating resistance to ssDNA viruses based on the activation of a suicide gene in the presence of the viral Rep protein. Importantly, we have demonstrated proof-of-principle using Toba ....Generating broad and stable resistance to gemini- and nanoviruses. The ssDNA geminiviruses and nanoviruses are considered a major threat to crop production in the tropics and subtropics. There are currently no effective control strategies for these viruses. We have been developing a novel transgenic strategy for generating resistance to ssDNA viruses based on the activation of a suicide gene in the presence of the viral Rep protein. Importantly, we have demonstrated proof-of-principle using Tobacco yellow dwarf mastrevirus. In this project, we aim to further develop this strategy into a broad and stable mechanism for generating resistance to all known geminiviruses and nanoviruses.Read moreRead less