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Home Research Publications People Positions Teaching Links
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Research
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Our research centres on integrated
studies of plant-environment interactions focusing on the response of plants to
climate change-related stresses at the community, whole plant, cellular/molecular levels. Specifically, we are interested
in responses to reduced water availability, elevated carbon dioxide levels,
high rhizospheric calcium and ozone stress.
Current/recent projects include:
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The
mechanism of encoding specificity in calcium-mediated signalling pathways in
plants.
We have a long-term research
programme investigating the role of calcium ions as second messengers in the
response of plants to environmental stresses focusing on the stomatal guard cell as a model system. We are
particularly interested in the mechanisms by which stimulus-specific
information is encoded in the calcium signal through the generation of a
calcium signature enabling stomata to differentiate between different stimuli
including the drought hormone abscisic acid,
elevated carbon dioxide levels, and ozone. We are also interested in
extending these studies from model
species to crop and ‘ecologically relevant’ species. (For example, see Ng et al. 2001 Nature 410, 596-599; Prokic et al. 2006 J Exp Bot 57, 675-683; Bothwell et al.
2006 Plant J 46, 327–335; Bothwell et al. 2008 Development 135,
2173-81; McAinsh, Pittman
2009 New Phytol
181, 275-294.)
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Stoma of C. communis (left).
A guard cell loaded with a fluorescent calcium-sensitive indicator (middle).
Spatial heterogenieties in stimulus-induced
increases in cytosolic calcium (right).
Encryption
of signalling information in the temporal dynamics of calcium signatures. The
pattern of stimulus-induced calcium oscillations dictates the steady-state stomatal aperture.
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The perception and
response of plants to ozone.
We have a long-term research
programme investigating plant responses to oxidative stresses such ozone
focusing largely on the signalling pathways involved in this response and the
functional genomics of ozone stress. We are also interested in the impact of
ozone on the mechanisms by which calcicole species
are able to tolerate high rhizospheric calcium.
(For example, see Clayton et al. 1999 Plant J 17, 575-579;
McAinsh et al. 2002 New Phytol 153,
441-448; Evans et al. 2005 Plant J 41, 615-626.)
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Ozone-induced increases in cytosolic
calcium in Arabidopsis containing the calcium-sensitive photoprotein aequorin monitored
by luminescence imaging.
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The regulation of apoplastic calcium
in plants exposed to high rhizospheric calcium (calcicole-calcifuge physiology).
We
have an on-going research programme investigating the physiological and
molecular basis for the tolerance of calcicole
plants to high rhizospheric calcium together with
the impact of climate change-related stresses on the biodiversity of
vulnerable calcicole plant communities. We are
particularly interested in extending work performed on model species to
related species in the field. (For example, see De Silva et al. 2001 Planta 214, 158-162; Cherukuri et al. Comp Biochem
Physiol A-Mol Integr Physiol 143, S178.)
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 The
calcareous limestone habitat typical of many calcicole
species (top). Arabis hirsute, a close relative of A.
thaliana, which is more strictly confined to calcareous habitats where it
can be found in grasslands and dune vegetation (middle). Microarray analysis
of ‘calcicole adaptation genes’ in A. thaliana (bottom).
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Contact: Dr Martin McAinsh
Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University,
Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
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