Resolving the steps in the evolution of C4 photosynthesis. This project aims to identify the molecular mechanisms responsible for the evolution of grasses using the C4 biochemical pathway that enables plants to survive in hot, dry, high-light environments. The endemic Australian subtribe Neurachninae is the only known grass group that contains C4 species, species using the ancestral C3 pathway, as well as species using pathways intermediate to C3 and C4. Through a comparative approach employing ....Resolving the steps in the evolution of C4 photosynthesis. This project aims to identify the molecular mechanisms responsible for the evolution of grasses using the C4 biochemical pathway that enables plants to survive in hot, dry, high-light environments. The endemic Australian subtribe Neurachninae is the only known grass group that contains C4 species, species using the ancestral C3 pathway, as well as species using pathways intermediate to C3 and C4. Through a comparative approach employing high-throughput sequencing technologies, it is expected that the molecular changes underlying the transition from C3 to C4 will be identified. These results should define what is required to engineer plant varieties with increased yield and the ability to withstand climate change effects.Read moreRead less
Regulators of protein translation reveal new pathways to plant productivity. This proposal aims to make transformative insights into the control of photosynthetic protein production. Photosynthesis is a key target for crop improvement that can address global food security. Improving photosynthesis requires precision control of photosynthetic proteins. It was unknown how this is achieved at the level of protein production. Excitingly, the team discovered how cellular protein production changes in ....Regulators of protein translation reveal new pathways to plant productivity. This proposal aims to make transformative insights into the control of photosynthetic protein production. Photosynthesis is a key target for crop improvement that can address global food security. Improving photosynthesis requires precision control of photosynthetic proteins. It was unknown how this is achieved at the level of protein production. Excitingly, the team discovered how cellular protein production changes in response to photosynthetic demand. The project strives to uncover how clusters of RNAs are decayed or translated into new proteins based on RNA features and linked binding proteins. This will allow manipulation of the accumulation of target proteins towards the goal of revealing unexplored ways to improve photosynthesis.Read moreRead less
Deciphering organelle transport mechanisms in plants. Plant growth, productivity and seed yield all depend on organelle function which requires metabolites and proteins
to be transported across membranes. This mechanism of transport is carried out by specific transporters that have
the ability to transport macromolecules, and regulate organelle function. We have identified new transporters that
are involved in amino acid and protein transport in the mitochondria, chloroplast and peroxisomes. We ....Deciphering organelle transport mechanisms in plants. Plant growth, productivity and seed yield all depend on organelle function which requires metabolites and proteins
to be transported across membranes. This mechanism of transport is carried out by specific transporters that have
the ability to transport macromolecules, and regulate organelle function. We have identified new transporters that
are involved in amino acid and protein transport in the mitochondria, chloroplast and peroxisomes. We will assign
function to each protein and investigate the importance in regulating organelle biogenesis. This will allow us to
modulate plant energy production for optimal growth and to withstand abiotic stress, all of which have
agriculturally beneficial consequences. Read moreRead less