Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Plant Sciences
Abstract
Theme: Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy
Organisations
| Description | I work on plant development focusing on understanding and manipulating stem cells during plant growth in the emerging model species Marchantia polymorpha. I am particularly interested in how transcription factors and plant hormones regulate Marchantia growth and how this can be exploited to steer development. So far I have: 1) Identified Marchantia stem cells using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Previously, it was unknown how many cell types exist in Marchantia and which cells function as stem cells. Using scRNA-seq I was able to show that Marchantia has few distinct cell types and that two cell populations contribute to the stem cell pool. These two populations are associated with distinct patterns of key plant hormones, particularly for the hormone auxin. 2) Developed functional reporters for the activity of auxin in live plants. The activity of these reporters is consistent with the results from scRNA-seq and importantly enables live experiments with real-time measurements. 3) Demonstrated that altering auxin concentrations by applying purified hormones, or hormone synthesis inhibitors results in a shift of cell identities. High levels of auxin suppress stem cells, while low levels promote them. |
| Exploitation Route | The outcomes of my research will further boost the adoption of Marchantia as a model system. Marchantia has the potential to accelerate discoveries in biotechnology and agriculture, by providing a simple testbed for novel approaches. The findings of my research may also inform strategies to engineer crops to meet the rising demand for food as regulatory programs controlling growth are broadly conserved across land plants. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Title | High-throughput live imaging protocol for Marchantia |
| Description | Protocol enables high throughput imaging of live Marchantia polymorpha plants for up to 1 week. The method was developed from a 3-D printed Imaging Growth Chamber designed by Mihails Delmans and described in his thesis (https://github.com/HaseloffLab/MihailsDelmansThesis). We adapted the method to commonly available laboratory equipment, using a transparent 384-well plate as the imaging chamber. Wells are filled with growth media and plants placed in the centre of each well. Gene frames and coverslips treated with anti-fog spray were used to seal the wells. The setup can be paired with automated imaging of samples. Protocol developed by Marius Rebmann, Marta Tomaselli and Mihails Delmans. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Protocol greatly simplifies and standardises automated plant imaging for Marchantia. Protocol has been viewed 185 times. |
| URL | https://www.protocols.io/view/marchantia-high-throughput-imaging-in-multiwell-pl-bcmsiu6e/metadata |
| Title | Improved Cryopreservation protocol for Marchantia |
| Description | Simplified cryopreservation protocol for Marchantia polymorpha gemmae, based on (Tanaka et al. 2016, Plant and Cell Physiology). Enables long term storage of plants at -80°C. Developed by Marius Rebmann, Marta Tomaselli, Linda Silvestri, Michelle Lim and Susana Sauret-Gueto. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Reduced cost and hands-on time compared to the original protocol. Method has been viewed 80 times. |
| URL | https://www.protocols.io/view/marchantia-cryopreservation-of-gemmae-9vxh67n/metadata |
| Title | Improved culture systems for the model plant system, Marchantia polymorpha |
| Description | Part of a set of new techniques and materials described in "Systematic tools for reprogramming plant gene expression in a simple model, Marchantia polymorpha" by Susanna Sauret-Güeto, Eftychios Frangedakis, Linda Silvestri, Marius Rebmann, Marta Tomaselli, Kasey Markel, Mihails Delmans, Anthony West, Nicola J. Patron, Jim Haseloff. Preprint distributed on BioRxiv, and acceprted for publication at ACS Synthetic Biology. The manuscript describes new techniques and materials useful for low-cost growth of Marchantia plants thoughout the plant's life cycle under sterile conditions. The new approach allows the simple isolation of sterile spores for further transformation work, and a way of producing relatively large amounts of sterile material for bioproducion in the system. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The technique is becoming widely adopted by other laboratories in the field. |
| URL | https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.29.971002 |
| Title | Improved vector system for bioengineering in plants |
| Description | Part of a set of new techniques and materials described in "Systematic tools for reprogramming plant gene expression in a simple model, Marchantia polymorpha" by Susanna Sauret-Güeto, Eftychios Frangedakis, Linda Silvestri, Marius Rebmann, Marta Tomaselli, Kasey Markel, Mihails Delmans, Anthony West, Nicola J. Patron, Jim Haseloff. Preprint distributed on BioRxiv, and acceprted for publication at ACS Synthetic Biology. The manuscript describes a new set of plant transformation vectors and DNA partsthat are easier to manipulate, and useful for transformation of nuclear or plastid genomes. |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Wide international distribution of a free vector and DNA parts kit via the OpenMTA, and deposit with Addgene. |
| URL | https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.29.971002 |