Research Projects
In the Van Aken lab, we are interested in how plants respond to stress at a molecular level. Furthermore, we aim to use this information to improve plant performance and stress resistance of commercially relevant species.
Retrograde and stress signalling
Mitochondria and chloroplasts are crucial for plant viability and are able to communicate information on their functional status to the cellular nucleus via retrograde signalling, thereby affecting gene expression. The Van Aken lab investigates how this signalling is achieved at a molecular level. In the current model, mitochondrial and/or chloroplast dysfunction results in reactive oxygen species formation (e.g. superoxide and hydrogen peroxide). Via unknown mechanisms likely involving redox sensors, the stress signal is passed on to nearby ER membranes. There, a group of NAC transcription factors can be released and translocate to the nucleus to regulate gene expression. It is our aim to elucidate the different steps from redox sensing to transcription factor activation using a variety of reverse and forward genetic approaches. Additionally, we characterise the downstream genes activated by retrograde pathways, by trying to understanding how they evolved and how they contribute to stress resistance in plants.
We are also looking into how the cellular recycling process of autophagy is specifically targeting mitochondria 'mitophagy'.
Biotechnology and engineering
Plant metabolism is highly flexible. Recently, we have started exploring how we can introduce new metabolic pathways into plants for the production of valuable compounds, such as insect pheromones. These may in the future lead to sustainable production platforms for combating insect pests in agriculture and natural environments.
Touch responses
As plants cannot move to evade threats, they must be aware of changes in their surroundings, including mechanical stimulation. These ‘touch’ responses have important biochemical and morphological effects that affect gene expression to improve survival and reproduction. Touch and early wounding signalling can warn the plant of the presence of pathogens and herbivores, allowing fast and efficient stress responses. Regular touch stimulation of plants results in altered plant architecture with shorter petioles and bolts, delayed flowering, and even improved pathogen resistance.
Although touch responses within minutes of stimulation have been described previously, very few regulators have been reported. Therefore, this project aims to dissect this rapid stress response in detail and to identify the signalling components and transcription factors involved. Identifying such regulators could have great impact on our understanding of pathogen defence, and can create target genes for generating crops with improved environmental awareness and stress resistance.
Also mechanical treatment of crop plants has been traditionally used to improve crop yield, for instance in Japan as 'Mugufumi'. We are now exploring if we can use controlled mechanical stimulation to improve yields of cereals such as wheat, barley and oat in the Nordics.