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Multilevel Modelling of Plant Morphogenesis

Reference	BBS/E/J/000C0646
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Veronica Grieneisen
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	John Innes Centre
Department	John Innes Centre Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	807,788
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/10/2009
End date	31/03/2017
Duration	89 months

Abstract

This project focuses on using mathematical and computational methods to understand plant cell polarity control and multicellular organisation. In particular, we aim to unravel the complexity of the feedbacks between subcellular mechanisms of cell polarity and tissue-level patterning mechanisms, focusing on auxin patterning and biophysical interactions. From a theoretical standpoint, this translates in gaining insights on mechanisms of biological spatial pattern formation and auto-organisation through multi-level modelling. Such modelling basically captures biological processes at different levels – molecular and genetic levels, subcellular properties, cells and organs – allowing them to interact. The objective is to investigate whether level cross-talk yields results that are not present at the lower level and whether essential patterns for developmental regulation emerge on mesoscopic levels which are not coded for explicitly. This approach is developed in close collaboration with several experimental groups. Examples of these experiment-model cycles are: exploring the mechanics of cellular growth by quantifying the dynamics of single cell shape changes and relating this to organ growth; analysing biochemical pathways (such as cytokinin-auxin interactions) and their influence on cell polarity and plant development (e.g. valve formation through auxin minima in fruit development, radial patterning and specification of transition zones of the roots and root nodulation); and studying cell fate through genetic regulatory networks (e.g. stem cell maintenance).

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	Plant Science, Systems Biology
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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