Award details

Integration of primary and intermediary metabolism for optimal resource use efficiency during stress

Reference	BBS/E/C/00014149
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Christine Foyer
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Rothamsted Research
Department	Rothamsted Research Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	1,047,524
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1999
End date	31/03/2003
Duration	48 months

Abstract

Background Plants are sessile organisms that have to withstand large variations in environmental conditions. Molecular and metabolic flexibility is a pre-requisite for sustained growth in an unpredictable and changeable environment. Two essential features in stress tolerance are 1) Modulation of the pathways of primary assimilation to sustain energy requirements, and maintain carbohydrate and amino acid pools and 2) Induction of defence reactions. Research Goal: To improve sustainability and quality of cereals through: 1) Modifications of key enzymes controlling and coordinating C and N assimilation. 2) Amelioration of defence responses. Targets: 1) Improving drought tolerance, particularly in wheat. 2) Decreasing the sensitivity of maize to cold and drought. Approaches: 1. Manipulation of carbohydrate synthesis and metabolism by modification of sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS) and nitrogen assimilation by modification of glutamine synthetase and GOGAT. Analysis of sugar signalling mutants to elucidate metabolic crosstalk between C and N pathways. 2. Use of mitochondrial and other mutants to study of the integration of energy metabolism in leaves in order to identify components necessary for optimal resource use efficiency. 3. Use of mutants in key redox reactions, particularly catalase mutants and mitochondrial complex I mutants. Production and analysis of transformed plants modified in ascorbate and glutathione metabolism. 4. Physiological and metabolic analysis, in vitro hybridisation and immunolocalisation, together with molecular analysis of the interaction between C and N metabolites, antioxidants, photosynthesis, photorespiration and water status.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Plant & Microbial Sciences (PMS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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