Current research in Molecular Plant Biology
Research in the laboratories of Molecular plant biology focuses on photosynthetic mechanisms and harvesting of light energy in plants and cyanobacteria as well as on the signaling mechanisms and effects of the environment, both biotic and abiotic, on various life processes and their regulation in autotrophic organisms. New developments aim at solar fuel production making use of the biodiversity of photosynthetic microorganisms and synthetic biology. Laboratory hosts the Center of Excellence of the Academy of Finland "Integrative photosynthesis and bioactive compound resesrch at systems biology level".
Photosynthetic mechanisms, regulation and signaling - towards solarfuel production (FCoE project)
Project addresses the structure/function relationships and assembly of photosynthetic protein complexes in the thylakoid membrane as well as the components and regulation of electron transfer by alternative routes and protein phosphorylation. Intracellular signaling cascades, initiated by changes in photosynthetic performance as a result of changing environmental cues and leading to plant/cyanobacteria acclimation, are also under investigation. We aim at systems biology level understanding of interacting bioenergetic networks and their role in photosynthetic performance and acclimation processes. Applied research in the project focuses on solar energy harnessing for biofuel production, making use of the biodiversity of photosynthetic microorganisms and taking systems biology approaches. Project leader Eva-Mari Aro
Systems biology of plant chloroplast redox compounds
Plants are sessile organisms that cannot avoid the detrimental changes in their growth environment via migration. Survival under ever changing growth conditions requires sensing the fluctuating factors following the induction of acclimation processes in plants. Apart from the production of energy to support life on Earth chloroplast redox reactions also participate in signalling processes adjusting the expression of both chloroplast and nuclear genes. Our research aims at studying the role of the redox components in chloroplast and in the signalling processes including enzymes of protein phosphorylation, thiol regulators and reactive oxygen species. Project leader Eevi Rintamäki
Osmotic stress signaling in Arabidopsis
High osmolality, which is caused by drought, salinity and low temperature, is one of the major stresses limiting crop productivity. Our objective is to elucidate plant signaling pathways that respond to osmotic stress. To answer the questions, we are analyzing the regulatory mechanism of the SNF1-related protein kinase (SnRK) 2s, which our previous study showed are central kinases in the pathways, using model plant Arabidopsis. Project leader Hiroaki Fujii
Plant Biophysics Project
The Plant Biophysics Project studies Photosystem II, the oxygen evolving enzyme complex of photosynthesis. The main focus is on light-induced inhibition of Photosystem II. The group has suggested a mechanism in which photoinhibition of Photosystem II is triggered by absorption of light by the manganese ions of the oxygen evolving complex of Photosystem II. In addition to photoinhibition, the group is interested in the biophysics of Photosystem II, using mainly chlorophyll fluorescence as a tool. Project leader Esa Tyystjärvi
Photosynthesis and alternative electron transfer (FCoE project)
The chloroplasts of higher plants perform oxygenic photosynthesis resulting in the transfer of light energy into chemical form, which is the basis of heterotrophic life on Earth. To ensure immaculate primary production under a wide spectrum of environmental conditions, the structure and function of photosynthetic machinery must be extremely dynamic. The aim of our study is to resolve which alternative electron transfer routes are induced upon specific stress conditions, and to identify the molecular components involved in these reactions. Project leader Paula Mulo
Gene regulation in cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria are important primary producers and the ancestors of plant chloroplasts. Acclimation of cyanobacteria to changing environmental conditions requires adjustment of gene expression. The sigma subunit of RNA polymerase is a key regulator of gene expression. The focus of our research is to reveal roles of different sigma subunits when cyanobacteria acclimate to new conditions. Project leader Taina Tyystjärvi
Cross-talk between light acclimation and defence reactions in plants (FCoE project)
Besides photosynthesis, chloroplasts perform essential signalling functions in light acclimation and various stress responses in plants. The final acclimation responses are, however, influenced by cross-talk with other components of the cellular signalling networks. Our aim is to reveal how serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) family members regulate developmental programs and acclimation strategies in plants. Project leader Saijaliisa Kangasjärvi
RNA-silencing in plants, and its suppression with various virus-derived silencing suppressors in transgenic N. tabacum and N. benthamina plants
In this project we study the how the RNA-silencing mediated defence mechanisms affects virus infections and symptoms in plants, and how the viral RNA-silencing suppressors interfere with the host plants? gene regulation, physiology and phenotype, and plants? susceptibility to other virus infections. We study these interactions by using transgenic N. tabacum and N. benthamiana plants, that express different viral silencing suppressors. Full transcriptomes of these plants are analysed using microarrays for Tobacco (Agilent), and the proteomes are analysed using 2D-gel electrophoresis, and western blotting. Project leader Kirsi Lehto
BioEnergy
Our aim is to obtain new insight and develop new methods for improving renewable energy production. We develop model systems for fermentative H2-production using E. coli and for phototrophic H2- and hydrocarbon-production using cyanobacteria. In support of applied projects we conduct targeted fundamental projects on selected topics including NADPH-metabolism and FeS-cluster assembly and repair. Group leader Patrik Jones
Plant-fungus interactions, molecular biology and evolution of toxigenic Fusarium species and biological control
We are developing and using molecular detection and quantification methods in order to determine, whether any of the mycotoxins in cereal grains are correlated with the DNA levels of plant pathogenic Fusarium and Alternaria fungi, and whether these methods can reliably be used to distinguish grain samples with high mycotoxin levels. We are also using molecular methods for identification and phylogenetic studies of different fungal and plant species as well as for the identification and following the survival of fungal and bacterial strains of biological control in treated plants. Tapani Yli-Mattila
Signaling pathway at Schizophyllum commune mating
The sexual reproduction of the basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune starts with the mating of haploid strains carrying different genes at A- and B- locus. The genes of A mating type locus encode homeodomain (HD) type transcription factors and those in B a pheromone/receptor system. The G-protein coupled receptor at B -locus of a haploid strain has to interact with a pheromone produced by the other mate. The pheromone-receptor interaction induces the reciprocal nuclear exchange and migration between the mates which then results with the help of HD transcription factors into the growth of a dikaryon with fruiting bodies. My research aims to clarify the role of the small GTPases and microtubule associated motor molecules in the mating process. Marjatta Raudaskoski