Welcome to the research pages for Plant Molecular Sciences at Royal Holloway, University of London. This Centre is addressing fundamental aspects that determine plant traits with agronomical, nutritional and health benefits. Basic research is carried out in model plants, such as Arabidopsis. The Centre seeks innovative ways to apply fundamental science to crop, vegetable and ornamental plants. An expanding area within the Centre's research activities is the Systems and Synthetic Biology that is in close collaboration with staff in the Department of Computer Science, RHUL. The main research themes of the Centre are “Genetic engineering for crop improvement”, ” Growth and cell cycle control”, ”Plant responses to biotic and abiotic stress”, “Senescence” and “Light control of plant development”. Areas of strength include plant cell wall biochemistry, carotenoid biosynthesis, signalling mechanisms in cell cycle regulation, metabolomics, photoregulation of gene expression and organ senescence. The Centre has numerous research links with industrial and academic partners including Syngenta, Bayercropscience, Unilever, Advanced Technologies, Horticulture Research International, John Innes Centre, Rothamsted Experimental Station, Food Standard Agency, CABI, Veterinary Laboratories Agency and with other universities in the USA and Europe.

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Plant molecular biology: Regulation of the cell division cycle in plants and the signalling pathways involved.

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Regulation of biosynthesis and modification of plant cell wall components during development and in response to fungal attack.  Lignin, xylan and cellulose biosynthesis.  Genetic manipulation to modify lignin and hemicellulose content. Protein sequencing.

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Biochemistry and molecular biology of carotenoid biosynthesis in tomatoes.  Genetic manipulation of tomatoes to enhance carotenoid content.  In vivo and in vitro studies on anti-oxidant and anti-cancer properties of carotenoids.

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Role of hydrogen peroxide and enzyme phosphorylation in the response to fungal elicitors.

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Light input to the circadian clock in Arabidopsis thaliana. Genetic dissection of light signalling in the shade avoidance response. Molecular analysis of plant microbe interactions on the leaf surface.

+44 (0)1784 443184

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Establish the link between jasmonate signalling and the cell cycle. Engineering jasmonate-mediated production of secondary products in plants. Construction of high-order gene regulatory networks related to plant stresses and hormones.

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TBA

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Molecular genetics of light control of chloroplast and leaf development in Arabidopsis thaliana. Light control of photosynthetic gene expression. Role of chloroplast signals in regulating nuclear genes.

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Higher plant reproduction, role of hormones and ethylene in post-pollination phenomena, fruit ripening and senescence.  Development of novel microscopical techniques.

Fraser PD and Bramley PM (2008) Genetic Manipulation of Carotenoid Content and Composition in Crop Plants. In Carotenoids, vol 5 (Britton G., ed), chapter 6, in press

Dagustu N, Fraser PD, Enfissi EMA and Bramley PM (2008) Screening for high callus induction and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of sunflower (Helianthus annuus l.) Biotechnology and Biotechnological Equipment, in press

Fraser PD, Enfissi EMA and bramley PM (2008) Genetic engineering of carotenoid formation in tomato fruit and the potential application of systems and synthetic biology approaches. Archiv Biochem Biophys, in press

Bogre L, Magyar Z, Lopez-Juez E. New clues to organ size control in plants. GENOME BIOLOGY Volume: 9 Issue: 7 Article Number: 226 Published: 2008

Menges M, Doczi R, Okresz L, et al. Comprehensive gene expression atlas for the Arabidopsis MAP kinase signalling pathways. NEW PHYTOLOGIST Volume: 179 Issue: 3 Pages: 643-662 Published: 2008

Lopez-Juez E, Dillon E, Magyar Z, et al. Distinct light-initiated gene expression and cell cycle programs in the shoot apex and cotyledons of Arabidopsis. PLANT CELL Volume: 20 Issue: 4 Pages: 947-968 Published: APR 2008

Devlin P. The role of FHY3 in red light input to the Arabidopsis clock. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY Volume: 150 Issue: 3 Pages: S152-S152

Balbi V, Devoto A. Jasmonate signalling network in Arabidopsis thaliana: crucial regulatory nodes and new physiological scenarios. NEW PHYTOLOGIST Volume: 177 Issue: 2 Pages: 301-318 Published: 2008

Fourrier N, Bedard J, Lopez-Juez E, et al. A role for SENSITIVE TO FREEZING2 in protecting chloroplasts against freeze-induced damage in Arabidopsis. PLANT JOURNAL Volume: 55 Issue: 5 Pages: 734-745 Published: SEP 2008

Price AM, Orellana DFA, Salleh FM, et al. A comparison of leaf and petal senescence in wallflower reveals common and distinct patterns of gene expression and physiology. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY Volume: 147 Issue: 4 Pages: 1898-1912 Published: AUG 2008

To access publications by individual members of staff please go to "Staff" web pages