Further Enquiries

Waite Campus
THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE
SA 5064
AUSTRALIA
Email

Telephone: +61 8 8303 7248
Facsimile: +61 8 8303 7109

Plant Cell Physiology

Our laboratory is engaged in research to uncover the mechanisms and physiological significance of the cell-specific nutrient storage seen within higher plants. We use a combination of physiological and molecular tools to this end and conduct a range of single cell-based biochemical, (electro-) physiological and molecular assays. We are located in the Plant Research Centre on the Waite Campus.

Background
Facilities & Techniques
Current Members
Recent Papers

Plants often take up nutrients in excess of their immediate needs and store the extra in cell vacuoles. The nutrient storage pools in different leaf cell-types are compositionally distinct¹. For instance, phosphate and Ca appear to never co-localise in the same cell whereas magnesium, potassium, chloride and nitrate may share similar cellular locations but can be at very different concentrations in different cells.

We have recently conducted a survey of leaves from 30 phylogenetically distinct species and discovered two “evolutionary conserved” patterns of cell-specific Ca distribution. In grasses, vacuolar Ca is present at high concentrations in epidermal cells but undetectable in mesophyll cells. In contrast, in many eudicot species Ca is at a high concentration in the palisade and spongy mesophyll cells but undetectable in epidermal cells². We have recently discovered the mechanisms behind these patterns in Ca distribution, and their physiological significance. For more information read here. Such knowledge is fundamental to our understanding of how plants function and should ultimately allow the nutritional enhancement of crop plants (and consequently fortification of animal and human diets) without adversely affecting crop plant physiology.

We have collaborations with international colleagues: Drs Jim Haseloff, Julian Hibberd and Alex Webb at the University of Cambridge, UK & Kendal Hirschi, Baylor College of Medicine, USA. Nationally we collaborate closely with Dr Kaiser, Professors Tester and Tyerman at the University of Adelaide.

Facilities & Techniques

At the Plant Research Centre we are fortunate in having a wide range of sophisticated molecular and electrophysiological tools and equipment for the investigation of ion transport processes and proteins. We also have access to the world-class imaging facilities through our collaborators at Adelaide Microscopy. Core techniques include single-cell sampling (SiCSA)^3,4, X-ray microanalysis², laser microdissection, ICP analysis, q-RT-PCR, gene misexpression techniques such as over-expression and miRNA, the use of T-DNA knockout plants and the GAL4-GFP enhancer trap system⁵. We also have access to, and use ion-selective electrodes, microelectrode ion flux estimation (MIFE), two-electrode voltage clamp, radioactive trace-flux measurement and heterologous expression in yeast and Xenopus oocytes. We are also the home of the AIB Labs Membrane Transporter Expression Facility (an AIB Labs facility supported by Bio Innovation SA and The ARC).

1. Conn S and Gilliham M (2010) Annals of Botany, 105:1081-1102
2. Storey R and Leigh R A (2004) Plant Physiol. 136: 3838-3848
3. Tomas AD and Leigh RA (1999) Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 50: 447-472
4. Laval et al. (2002) Planta 255: 287-292
5. Johnson AAT et al. (2005) Plant J. 41: 779-789

Current Members

Ca Compartmentation


Professor Roger Leigh	Dr Matthew Gilliham Senior Research Fellow	Charlotte Jordans Research Assistant

Asmini Athman Research Assistant	Maclin Dayod PhD Student Ca accumulation and water flow (with Steve Tyerman)	Bo Xu (Weasley) PhD Student Control of Ca accumulation

Bradleigh Hocking PhD Student Control of apoplastic Ca

Anion Transport

Bo Li
PhD Student

Chloride transport in plants (with Stuart Roy and Mark Tester, ACPFG)
PhD Student

Sam Henderson
Research Assistant

Salt tolerance in grapevine

Jiaen Qiu
PhD Student

Chloride transport in plants (with Stuart Roy, ACPFG)

Recent Members
2010-2011

Dr Simon Conn
Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Calcium compartmentation in leaves

Now an EMBL fellow in Grenoble, France

Sam Henderson
Research Assistant

Ca compartmentation in plants

Now a PhD student working on salt tolerance in grapevines

Ming Yew
Honours Student

Driving leaf cell-specific expression in Arabidopsis

Graduated 2A

Adrie De Waal
Masters Student

Salinity stress in grapevines
(with Paul Petrie (Fosters) and Pichu Rengasamy)

Graduated with distinction

Recent members
2009


Asmini Athmani Honours Student Examining leaf cell-specific gene expression in Arabidopsis using laser microdissection Graduated 2009 First Class	Lucy Aukett Honours Student Driving leaf cell-specific expression in Arabidopsis Graduated 2009 2A	Bo Xu (Weasley) Masters Student Functional Characterisation of HKT genes (with Darren Plett, ACPFG) Graduated 2009 (High Distinction) ACPFG Best Masters Research Student Prize	Tintu Baby Honours Student Calcium Accumulation in grapeberries (with Paul Petrie (Fosters), Cassandra Collins & Steve Tyerman) Graduated 2009 First Class
2008

Elodie Hudik (Visiting Masters Student) - AGP localisation and miRNA (with Carolyn Schultz) Graduated 2008	Laetitia Ramanoudjame (Visiting Masters Student) - Endogenous promoter driven enhancer trap Graduated 2008	Bradleigh Hocking (Masters Student) - Transient expression of transporters in protoplasts Graduated 2008 (High Distinction) ACPFG Best Masters Research Student Prize	Vaishali Panjabi (Visiting Postdoctoral Research Fellow) - Identifying cell-specific promoter elements in cereals July-December 2008

2007

Ben Noll (Honours Student) - The effect of a synthesised organic peroxide library on root development (with Amanda Able and Dennis Taylor) (2A).

Positions Available

Currently available research projects in the lab can be found here. All projects can be adapted for honours, masters or PhD.

PhD Scholarships (Currently Available)

PhD scholarships are available to investigate the mechanism and physiological significance of cell-specific nutrient accumulation within the leaves of higher plants. The research will involve a range of single cell-based biochemical and molecular assays, as well as the construction and physiological analysis of specific plant mutants (see background above).

Scholarship applicants should have: a good BSc (Hons) degree in molecular biology, plant physiology or a related biological science; a demonstrated ability to work independently, and as part of a team; good communication skills and Australian or NZ citizenship or Australian permanent residency. The scholarships are available immediately for a minimum of three years and carry a living allowance of $27 500 per annum (tax free), in addition to project funding and travel.

International applicants are encouraged to apply for scholarships, see http://www.international.adelaide.edu.au/scholarships/ for details (note deadline 31st August) or seek additional funding sources.

Informal applications from students who wish to study for a PhD in the Plant Cell Physiology Lab are also always welcome. There are many sources of funding for both Australian and International students (see http://www.agwine.adelaide.edu.au/scholarships/ or http://www.adelaide.edu.au/graduatecentre/scholarships/

Honours and masters projects (Currently Available)

See project link above, for more information contact Dr Matthew Gilliham. If you have your own ideas related to our research please contact us to discuss opportunities.

Internships

Short-term projects are always open to both Australian and International students. Please contact Dr Matthew Gilliham to discuss projects and funding opportunities that are currently available.