Role of protein phosphorylation in maintenance of photosystem two activity
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Essex
Department Name: Life Sciences
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
The role of photosystem II core protein phosphorylation in the PSII repair cycle and in the folding of the thylakoid membranes in higher plant chloroplasts is still unclear. In this application we will study single and multiple phosphorylation site mutants of tobacco generated through chloroplast transformation. In background work we have constructed D1 mutants in which the phosphorylated threonine residue at position 2 has been replaced by either alanine, serine or aspartate. Objective 1 will use well established biochemical and spectroscopy assays to investigate the impact of these mutations on photosynthetic electron flow and PSII activity, the assembly status of PSII and different aspects of PSII repair including the rate of photodamage, rates of assembly and disassembly of PSII supercomplexes and rates of D1 synthesis and degradation. Various light and temperature regimes will be used to test for growth defects. Objective 2 will assess the impact of the D1-T2 mutations on thylakoid membrane structure using transmission electron microscopy combined with freeze-fracture and cryo-scanning electron microscopy. In this way a possible link to granal stacking will be tested. Fluoresence recovery after photobleaching will be used to determine changes in the migration of chlorophyll proteins in the thylakoid. Objective 3 will generate chloroplast mutants in which the single phosphorylation sites present in D2 and CP43 and the two found in PsbH are mutated. The assays used in Objectives 1 and 2 will be used to rigorously characterise the phenotypes of the mutants and in particular the possible role of PsbH phosphorylation in regulating electron transfer in PSII and CP43 in remodelling PSII supercomplexes. To test for overlap of function, Objective 5 will use Cre/loxP marker excision technology to ultimately generate a mutant lacking all 5 PSII phosphorylation sites plus mutants containing various combinations of phosphorylation sites.
Planned Impact
Understanding the details of the repair of the oxygen-evolving complex of photosynthesis might in the long-term lead to the development of microalgae and plants with more robust and more efficient photosynthesis. In the agricultural sector, beneficiaries could include: companies involved in modifying or selecting plants to maintain and or improve crop yields under stress conditions either imposed by the changing environment or to exploit less fertile land; farmers who wish to develop new practices for similar reasons; governments and policy-makers interested in developing novel strategies to achieve food security; and the public who will benefit from food security. In the bioenergy sector, beneficiaries include: companies wishing to develop alternatives to fossil fuels; governments and policy makers who are interested in new routes to energy security and for new energy sources for developing countries; the military who are looking for alternative fuels for specific and niche uses; environmentalists who need to focus on rational long-term alternatives to fossil fuels. In the environmental and ecological sector, beneficiaries include those wishing to understand and mitigate loss of photosynthetic species or productivity in a changing environment. These include governments and policy makers, the tourism sector (coral reef bleaching) and fisheries (the loss of photosynthetic microbes at the start of the food chain).
Our research will also investigate at a fundamental level how proteins are assembled and disassembled in the thylakoid membrane and the factors controlling the stacking of membranes. Ultimately this knowledge will benefit those in the biotechnology sector who wish to develop microalage and other related photosynthetic organisms as solar biorefineries for the sustainable production of green chemicals and high-value products.
In the education sector, in museums and in the media, there will be benefits from publicising new advances in one of the most fundamental biological processes and one that has been taught at secondary school and so readily familiar to the general public.
Staff hired for the project will obtain training in cutting edge research in world-leading research centres. Peter Nixon is a member of the Photosynthesis Research Lab at Imperial College which includes several world leading experts in Photosynthesis including Bill Rutherford, Jim Barber, James Murray and Jasper van Thor, with expertise ranging from femtosecond spectroscopy to biofuel production through metabolic engineering of photosynthetic microbes.
The link with QMUL will further enhance the multidisciplinary training environment provided by the project, with expertise available in confocal and electron microscopy (Mullineaux) and computational modelling (Duffy). Here the project will provide cutting-edge training in techniques that are very widely applicable in the life sciences.
The project will benefit the professional career development of the technician working in Lawson's lab at Essex through training in a wide range of plant physiology skills, which has been recognized as skills shortage area by BBSRC. Many of the skills, such as data handling and analysis, independent planning and communication of results are transferable to other employment sectors. They will have experience in working in research intensive university environment with links to the commercial sector.
They will have the benefit of the excellent intellectual environment of a leading university with a tradition of close ties with engineers and industry.
Our research will also investigate at a fundamental level how proteins are assembled and disassembled in the thylakoid membrane and the factors controlling the stacking of membranes. Ultimately this knowledge will benefit those in the biotechnology sector who wish to develop microalage and other related photosynthetic organisms as solar biorefineries for the sustainable production of green chemicals and high-value products.
In the education sector, in museums and in the media, there will be benefits from publicising new advances in one of the most fundamental biological processes and one that has been taught at secondary school and so readily familiar to the general public.
Staff hired for the project will obtain training in cutting edge research in world-leading research centres. Peter Nixon is a member of the Photosynthesis Research Lab at Imperial College which includes several world leading experts in Photosynthesis including Bill Rutherford, Jim Barber, James Murray and Jasper van Thor, with expertise ranging from femtosecond spectroscopy to biofuel production through metabolic engineering of photosynthetic microbes.
The link with QMUL will further enhance the multidisciplinary training environment provided by the project, with expertise available in confocal and electron microscopy (Mullineaux) and computational modelling (Duffy). Here the project will provide cutting-edge training in techniques that are very widely applicable in the life sciences.
The project will benefit the professional career development of the technician working in Lawson's lab at Essex through training in a wide range of plant physiology skills, which has been recognized as skills shortage area by BBSRC. Many of the skills, such as data handling and analysis, independent planning and communication of results are transferable to other employment sectors. They will have experience in working in research intensive university environment with links to the commercial sector.
They will have the benefit of the excellent intellectual environment of a leading university with a tradition of close ties with engineers and industry.
Organisations
Publications
Ahmad N
(2020)
Contrasting Responses to Stress Displayed by Tobacco Overexpressing an Algal Plastid Terminal Oxidase in the Chloroplast
in Frontiers in Plant Science
Van Wesemael J
(2019)
Using Growth and Transpiration Phenotyping Under Controlled Conditions to Select Water Efficient Banana Genotypes.
in Frontiers in plant science
Description | Plants with mutations in the photosystems in the electron transport chain have altered photosynthetic efficiency and down regulated protective mechanisms. |
Exploitation Route | We are currently exploring this in more depth now and continue to examine the findings. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink |
Description | Agritech Event (Essex) to show case research activities to the industry |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | To showcase and describe research funding at Essex as well as our expertise and capabilities for interacting with the agriculture sector in order to facilitate collaborative research across the faculty and industry. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.agritech-east.co.uk/agri-tech-member/university-of-essex/# |
Description | Agritech Week event Essex |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | University of Essex Agritech event. The event show cased research from Biological Sciences, including the expertise for the Lawson lab. It included presentations, lab-tours and workshop o see and discuss latest developments that are being applied in agricultural sector including: • Drones • Image analysis • Measurement of plant performance • Stress and disease monitoring |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018 |
Description | Chairing a session at the Annual SEB meeting 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Co-chairing an SEB session on Stomata and photosynthetic regulation of water use efficiency at the annual SEB meeting in Seville. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://www.sebiology.org/events/event/seb-seville-2019/programme/plant-biology#stomatal |
Description | Gatsby masterclass |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Practical activity in which A level student extracted DNA from GM plant material and carried out PCR to check for gene of interest. This resulted in questions and discussions regarding the methods and the importance of plant science and "feeding the world". |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Invited seminar speaker, Sheffield, Oct 23 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Discussed research work and findings |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Invited speaker for EA meeting Jan 24 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Participated in debate on the future of food. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Invited speaker to Women in Science event. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Gave a change to provide advice and experience of working as a female in sciences and some of the challenges associated with this. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Invited to give School seminar, Reading, May 23 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Discussed research work and findings |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Invited to give department seminar at Royal Hollaway |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Discussed research work and findings |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Invited to give department seminar in Helsinki University March 23 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Discussed research work and findings |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Invited to give department seminar in Leuven, Belgium |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Promoted research activities |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Nominated and selected as Co-chair of the GRC CO2 assimilation, USA 2019, and Chair of GRC on the next conference in Italy May 2021 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Nominated and selected by peer to be the co-chair for the 2019 conference, and chair for the 2021 GRC conference on CO2 assimilation. https://www.grc.org/co2-assimilation-in-plants-from-genome-to-biome-conference/2019/ https://www.grc.org/co2-assimilation-in-plants-from-genome-to-biome-conference/2021/ |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.grc.org/co2-assimilation-in-plants-from-genome-to-biome-conference/2019/ |
Description | PEPG workshop 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | The Plant Environmental Physiology Group (PEPG) is a special interest group of the Society for Experimental Biology and the British Ecological Society The Workshop provided a unique opportunity for MSc, PhD students and early career researchers to gain hands-on experience and training in plant ecophysiology techniques from leading scientists and manufacturers. There were 65 student from all around the world. The practical sessions stimulated research discussion and approaches. A poster session also provided the students with the opportunity to interact with established scientist and ask questions of their own research and approaches. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://sites.google.com/prod/view/pepg-workshop |
Description | Participated with a stand at the New Scientist Live event, Sept 23 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Introduce plant science to general public. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://live.newscientist.com/ |
Description | Phenotyping photosynthesis for sustainable Thai rice production |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | The workshop took place at Khon Kaen University, Thailand between January 31st - February 1st and focused on providing theoretical and practical information on key phenotyping tools, including infra-red gas exchange, thermography, chlorophyll fluorescence as well as in inexpensive NDVI imaging tools developed using Raspberry Pi components. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.tlawsonlab.co.uk/newton-institutional-links.html |
Description | Plant Ecophysiology group workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | The PEP group is a special interest group of the SEB and BES. In 2012 Lawson organised a techniques workshop to train the next generation of scientists in some of the key physiological techniques. The week long event comprised of morning lecturer/seminar for expert researchers in the field followed by hands on practical sessions supported by the Industrial manufacturers. Lawson organised the 2014 sessions and is co-organiser of the 2016 and 2018 events. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2014,2016,2018 |
URL | https://sites.google.com/prod/view/drrjwebster/pepg-workshop |
Description | Royal Society Partnership grant which included a 2.5 day visit to local 6th form school (Suffolk one). |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | The Royal Society partnership grant enabled thermal camera to be purchased by the school. Lawson visited the school to present a seminar about the effect of climate change on stomatal behaviour and the use of thermal cameras to monitor plant performance. This was followed by a practical session involving droughted and water watered plants. As part of the assessment the students had to prepare and present posters to explain their findings. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | School Seminar (Bristol University) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Lunch time seminar showcase research activities and finding based on funded research within the lab. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | School Seminar (Glasgow University) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Lunch time seminar showcase research activities and finding based on funded research within the lab. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Speaker at the PEPg workshop (Lisbon) 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | The Plant Environmental Physiology Group (PEPG) is a special interest group of the Society for Experimental Biology and the British Ecological Society The Workshop provided a unique opportunity for MSc, PhD students and early career researchers to gain hands-on experience and training in plant ecophysiology techniques from leading scientists and manufacturers. There were 65 student from all around the world. The practical sessions stimulated research discussion and approaches. A poster session also provided the students with the opportunity to interact with established scientist and ask questions of their own research and approaches. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://sites.google.com/prod/view/pepg-workshop/Home?authuser=0 |
Description | Visited VIT India |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Presented some basic information on photosynthesis, followed by our research in the area of trying to improve photosynthetic capacity to increase yield. This raised a number of questions regarding the processes, mechanisms and even the use of GM technology and alternatives. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Workshop on Physiological Tools for Phenotyping Rice Photosynthesis |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | The aim of the workshop was to provide theoretical as well as hands on experience of a number of key techniques for measuring plant phenotyping and plant performance. A number of different approaches were presented that can be utilized by researchers, breeders and growers. The format focussed on Infra-red gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and P700, NDVI and thermal imaging. The workshop provided participants with (a) an overview of the principles behind these techniques and their possible application (b) hands on experience using the instruments and approaches (including improve troubleshooting skills). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |