Computational Modelling for Studying Signalling Mechanisms behind Autoregulation of Nodulation
Speaker: Liqi Han, ITEE
When: 2007-11-22 11:00:00
Venue: 78-622
Host: Dr. Jim Hanan & Prof. Peter Gresshoff
Abstract:Signalling mechanisms play a vital role in plant development and
function, controlling processes such as germination, root growth,
flowering, branching, and nodulation. However, these dynamic processes
are so complex that details about them are still largely unknown.
Endogenous signals in particular, such as those based on plant hormones
and peptides, are difficult to observe and remain a critical challenge
for botanical research. As an addition to conventional biological
approaches, new approaches and techniques of computational modelling
must be developed to investigate the complexities of signalling
occurring at and between different levels in plant systems. For this
project, nodulation of legumes has been chosen as the target system.
Nodulation is a developmental process resulting from the symbiosis of
legume plants with a group of bacteria known as rhizobia. The rhizobia
colonise legume roots to house themselves and provide fixed nitrogen for
the host plants. Since excessive nodulation can cause overconsumption of
resources, a balance of nodulation is maintained by a legume regulatory
system called autoregulation of nodulation (AON). The general framework
of short- and long-distance control of AON has been established
experimentally, but detailed signalling mechanisms still remain unclear.
The aim is to develop new methods and techniques of computational
modelling to help gain a better understanding of the signalling
mechanisms involved.
To explore the qualitative and quantitative attributes of AON
signalling, computational models for hypotheses testing and prediction
at multiple scales will be built. The focus of this project will be
developing functional-structural plant models (FSPM) of wildtype soybean
and its supernodulation mutant for investigation of AON signalling in a
growing structure. In these FSPM models, hypothesised signalling
mechanisms will be integrated to regulate plant architectural
development. An iterative process of hypotheses
testing-modification-testing will be conducted until satisfactory
simulation results are obtained. Local signalling events occurring with
nodule formation and cellular-level signal transduction will be studied
by computational modelling as well. The methods and techniques developed
in this project are also expected to be helpful for more general studies
involving plant signalling mechanisms.
Biography:(biography unavailable)
Type: Ph.D confirmation
Contact:Dr. Jim Hanan & Prof. Peter Gresshoff, seminar host (jim@maths.uq.edu.au)
or Guido Governatori (ITEE seminar co-ordinator)
(guido@itee.uq.edu.au)