Ruoqi Dou PhD, Monaghan Lab Investigating the role of subgroup IV calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) across the plant lineage Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are a unique family of integrated Ca2+-sense/response proteins with diverse functions in plants. In model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, there are 34 CDPK genes which can be clustered into four subgroups (I, II, III & IV). There are only 3 members in subgroup IV, with CPK28 being the most highly expressed among them. CPK28 is a major regulator of immune homeostasis and growth in multiple angiosperm plants including tomato, rice, cotton, and Arabidopsis. This project aims to investigate the conserved and/or diverged functions of subgroup IV CDPKs from extant lineages that represent crucial points over the evolutionary history of plants. Our results suggest that the function of subgroup IV CDPKs are well conserved across over 450 M years of evolution. By experimentally assessing whether functions of the subgroup IV CDPKs are conserved in plants with varying life history traits, I will be able to determine if these proteins play core roles in plants immune system, which holds promise for biotechnological applications by generating CDPK alleles that enhance plant microbial pathogens resistance without consequences to yield.
Dr. Ben Freeman University of British Columbia, Biodiversity Research Centre Why do tropical species live in narrow slices of mountainsides, and why does this matter in the climate change era? Why do tropical species live in narrow slices of mountainsides? Climate is the prevailing explanation for this pattern, but competition can also restrict species’ elevational ranges. In this talk I will share my research investigating the biogeography of climate change and the relative role of climate and species interactions in shaping species’ ranges in tropical mountains, Earth’s hottest biodiversity hotspots.
Visit Dr. Freeman's website here Dr. Michael Downey University of Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine New functions and regulation for inorganic polyphosphates across evolution Polyphosphates (polyP) are long chains of inorganic phosphates that are found in virtually all cells on earth. Ranging from 3 to thousands of residues in length, these chains have been implicated in diverse functions, ranging from protein folding and virulence in bacteria to cell signalling and blood clotting in higher eukaryotes. How does such a simple molecule participate is such varied functions? I will present our work suggesting that polyP functions, at least in part, via lysine polyphosphorylation. This appears to be a non-enzymatic modification wherein long chains of polyP are thought to be covalently attached to lysine residues of target proteins in bacteria, yeast, and human cells. I will also present evidence that eukaryotic cells tightly regulate polyP subcellular localization, which has important implications for the control of polyphosphorylation and other aspects of polyP biology.
Dr. Downey's CV is viewable here CRISPR-Cas9 based gene editing strategies for the correction of genetic disorders Congenital genetic defects are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Despite advances in our understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of genetic diseases, treatments are lacking. Advances in precision medicine, specifically gene therapy and editing approaches, have provided hope for a cure for these diseases at their molecular roots and can help in improving pathological outcomes. Based on the route of administration, time of delivery (prenatal or postnatal) and type of vectors (viral vectors and nanoparticles), different cell types and tissues can be targeted. In this talk, I will discuss nanoparticle-mediated gene editing (including base editing) strategies for the treatment of diseases such as type 1 tyrosinemia.
Connect with Dr. Sign on Twitter, LinkedIn, or view his publication on Google Scholar Nell Libera PhD, Smol Lab Lake ecosystem impacts from the fur farming industry in Nova Scotia, Canada Residents and environmental managers in Nova Scotia (NS), Canada, have attributed mink fur farms as a possible source of nutrient pollution that is causing algal blooms in regional lakes. However, water quality monitoring was only initiated in 2008, decades after the advent (ca. 1930s) and expansion (ca. 1970s) of the fur industry in NS. Further, multiple anthropogenic stressors, including climate change, acidification, brownification, and other land-use changes are likely contributing to ecosystem change. We analyzed the sediment archives of regional lakes to document the impacts of multiple stressors, and to better understand the environmental impacts of fur farming in NS. Our analyses included a detailed water chemistry survey, bioindicator analyses (diatoms and Cladocera), stable isotopes, and spectroscopic inferences of whole-lake primary production and organic carbon. Our data clearly implicate fur farms as a source of nutrient pollution. The most severe eutrophication impacts occurred in lakes where farms were closest to the shoreline. Some lakes were more resilient to eutrophication due to high colour and trace metal concentrations. This information can be used to inform management efforts in this region and in other lake ecosystems impacted by multiple stressors.
Dr. Thomas A. DeFalco Western University Deciphering and engineering kinase-mediated responses to stress in plants Plants must constantly survey their environment to respond to environmental perturbations. Toward this end, plants deploy receptor kinases (RKs) at the cell surface, which allow them to sense and respond to external cues while coordinating growth and development. Many RKs have been characterized as pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), which activate pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) upon perception of non- or altered-self elicitor molecules. Intensive study of model PRRs and PTI has led to an emerging paradigm wherein activated RK complexes trigger downstream signalling via activation of cytosolic kinases. These kinases in turn function to execute downstream signalling through the direct phosphorylation and regulation of diverse substrate proteins. I will discuss our work using a key immune-regulating kinase as a molecular probe to resolve the PTI signalling pathway, as well as how such knowledge can be applied to engineer immune responses. I will also discuss how such approaches may be applied to other, non-immune pathways, and how this relates to specificity in cell signalling.
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