Regulation of root attachment in Rhizobium - AfS, ENWW
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Interdisciplinary Bioscience DTP
Abstract
The attachment to legume roots of soil rhizobia represents the first key stage of physical interaction between host plants and future endosymbionts in nitrogen fixing Rhizobiumlegume symbioses. It is these symbioses that give the plants a 'self-fertilizing' phenotype, and can largely free them from synthetic fertilizer requirements. This is important, as synthetic fertilizers are both expensive and environmentally polluting. Complex genetic switches, controlled in a precise spatio-temporal fashion, are required to enable the appropriate activation of root attachment factors in both the eukaryote and prokaryotes. The production by Rhizobium of exopolysaccharide (EPS) is particularly important for this interaction. Previous work has identified a sigma factor (EcfE) in Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae 3841, which acts as a master regulator of pea root attachment, as well as a diguanylate cyclase (RL2880) important for EPS production. Building on these findings, this work aims to expand knowledge of the genetic regulation surrounding root attachment, using mutagenesis screens and other in vitro techniques to reveal new regulatory hierarchies. It is hoped that a greater understanding of this area may contribute to enhancing the efficiency of these symbioses, or even transferring them to non-legume plants, thereby contributing to sustainability in agriculture as well as global food security.
BBSRC priority areas addressed by this research -
Food, Nutrition and Health
Sustainably Enhancing Agricultural Production
Synthetic Biology
Global Food Security
BBSRC priority areas addressed by this research -
Food, Nutrition and Health
Sustainably Enhancing Agricultural Production
Synthetic Biology
Global Food Security
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Philip Poole (Primary Supervisor) |
Studentship Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BB/M011224/1 | 30/09/2015 | 31/03/2024 | |||
1810140 | Studentship | BB/M011224/1 | 30/09/2015 | 29/09/2019 |
Description | Federation of European Microbiological Societies Grants |
Amount | € 350 (EUR) |
Organisation | Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2017 |
End | 07/2017 |
Description | 21st Congress on Nitrogen Fixation - 10th-15th Oct 2019, Wuhan, China - Philip Poole |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Phil gave a talk at this international conference. He had many questions on his work and spent time exchanging ideas with colleagues in this research area. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://2019icnf.csp.escience.cn/dct/page/65580 |
Description | Bring and share pulse lunch |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Bring and share pulse lunch to celebrate world pulse day 18th Jan 2017 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://rhizosphere.org/lab-news/ |
Description | Development of Poole Lab website (Rhizosphere.org) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The Rhizosphere website is used to describe work performed, profiles lab members, lists outreach activities and celebrates achievements. Also includes a list of Lab publications. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020 |
URL | https://rhizosphere.org |
Description | Magazine publication - The Biologist |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Publication in bi-monthly magazine 'The Biologist', an official publication of the Royal Society of Biology. This cover story on biotechnology and engineering nitrogen fixing symbioses led to the issue being dedicated to plant sciences research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://thebiologist.rsb.org.uk/biologist/158-biologist/features/1791-can-we-fix-it |
Description | Posters at ICNF, Granada, Spain, Sept. 2017 |
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 | International conference. 11 posters from Lab. 2 short presentations |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://rhizosphere.org/lab-news/ |
Description | Rothamsted Research invited seminar - Phil Poole |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Phil gave a lunch-time research seminar. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://rhizosphere.org/lab-news/ |
Description | Talk at 2nd Plant Microbiome Conference, Amsterdam, Feb 2018 (Jack Parsons) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Selected to give a talk at an international conference on Plant Microbiome |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Talk at Nitrogen Network one-day meeting in Oxford, July 2018 (Rachel Wheatley, Euan James, Jack Parsons, Kyle Grant) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Talks were presented to audience of scientists in UK studying similar organisms and related subject areas. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://synthsym.org/nitrogen-network/ |
Description | Twitter account Rhizosphere @PooleLabOxford |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Twitter account to publicise the work of the Poole Lab |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019,2020 |
URL | https://twitter.com |