Plant Cell Signalling
Prof Julie Gray |
 Research Interests. My laboratory is focused on the use of molecular genetic techniques to investigate signal transduction pathways in plant cells. We are particularly interested in pathways controlling stomatal aperture and development, and also NAD signalling. For more details click on link (top right). |
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Control of stomatal apertureThe apertures of stomatal pores on the surface of plants are adjusted in response to changes in the environment such as light intensity or water availability. We are studying the function of the phoshoinositide signalling pathway and its interactions with other calcium release pathways in the control of stomatal aperture. We have shown that phospholipase C activity is involved in guard cell responses to drought and the plant hormone ABA. We are also studying the role of malate metabolism in stomatal closure. |
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Control of stomatal developmentStomata play a pivotal role in the regulation of gas exchange in flowering plants and are distributed throughout the aerial epidermis. In leaves, the pattern of stomatal distribution is highly variable between species but is regulated by a mechanism that maintains a minimum of one cell spacing between stomata. We are identifying new Arabidopsis mutants that are involved in stomatal patterning |
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NAD signallingThe coenzyme NAD has long known roles as an electron acceptor in reductive enzyme processes, but recent years have established a wide range of roles in animal signalling pathways via its degradation. We are currently studying the roles of the NAD metabolising enzymes, Sir2 histone deacetylases and nicotinamidases in Arabidopsis. |
Selected Group PublicationsDoheny-Adams T, Hunt L, Franks PJ, Beerling DJ, Gray JE.Genetic manipulation of stomatal density influences stomatal size, plant growth and tolerance to restricted water supply across a growth carbon dioxide gradient. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 367(1588):547-55. 2012 Hunt L, & Gray JE. BASL and EPF2 act independently to regulate asymmetric divisions during stomatal development. Plant Signalling & Behaviour, 5(3), 2010. |
| Hunt, L Bailey, KJ& Gray JE The signalling peptide EPFL9 is a positive regulator of stomatal development New PhytologistNew Phytologist 186(3):609-14 2010 |
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Hunt L& Gray JE. Signaling Peptide EPF2 Controls Asymmetric Cell Divisions During Stomatal Development. Curr Biol, 19;10 864-869 2009 |
| Hunt L & Gray JE The relationship between pyridine nucleotides and seed dormancy. New Phytologist 181(1) 62-70 2009. |
| Worrall D, Liang YK, Alvarez S, Holroyd GH, Spiegel S, Panagopulos M, Gray JE, Hetherington AM. Involvement of sphingosine kinase in plant cell signalling. Plant J 56(1):64-72 2008. |
| Hunt L, Holdsworth M & Gray JE. Nicotinamidase activity is important for Arabidopsis germination. Plant Journal, 51(3), 341-351.2007 |
| Bailey KJ, Gray JE, Walker RP & Leegood RC. Co-ordinate regulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase by light and CO2 during C4 photosynthesis. Plant Physiology, ;144 479-486 2007 |
| Gray JE. Plant development: Three steps for stomata. Current Biology, 17(6):R213-215 2007 |
| Malone S, Chen Z-H, Bahrami A, Walker R, Gray J & Leegood R. Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase in Arabidopsis: Changes in Gene Expression, Protein and Activity during Vegetative and Reproductive Development, Plant Cell Physiology, 48: 441-450.2007 |
| Gray JE. Guard cells: transcription factors regulate stomatal movements. Curr Biol. ;15(15):R593-5 2005 |
| Gray JE, Hetherington AM.Plant development: YODA the stomatal switch. Curr Biol. 14(12):R488-90 2004 . |
| Hunt L, Otterhag L, Lee JC, Lasheen T, Hunt J, Gilmour DJ, Sommarin M, Pical C, Gray JE. Calcium activation and gene-specific expression of Arabidopsis thaliana Phospholipase C isoforms. New Phytologist 162, 643-654, 2004 |
| Romano PGN, Edvardsson A, Heyes DJ, Ruban AV, Andersson B, Gray JE, Horton P. The Arabidopsis cyclophilin AtCYP20-2 is a light regulated, PSII supercomplex-associated cyclophilin type PPIase, Plant Physiology,134(4):1244-7, 2004 |
| Romano P, Horton P, & Gray JE. The Arabidopsis thaliana cyclophilin gene family. Plant Physiol., 2004, 134(4):1268-82, 2004 |
| Mills L.N., Hunt L., Leckie C.P, Aitken F.L., Wentworth M., McAinsh M.R., Gray J.E., & Hetherington A.M. The effects of manipulating phospholipase C on guard cell ABA-signalling. Journal of Experimental Botany, 55, 199-204, 2004. |
| Hunt L, Mills LN, Pical C, Leckie CP, Aitken FL, Kopka J, Mueller-Roeber B, McAinsh MR, Hetherington AM & Gray JE. Phospholipase C is required for the control of stomatal aperture by ABA. Plant Journal, 34, 47-55, 2003. |
| Bird S & Gray JE. Signals from the cuticle affect epidermal cell differentiation. New Phytologist (Tansley Review), 157: 9-23, 2003. |
| Bahrami, AR, Bastow, R., Rolfe, S, Price, C, & Gray, JE. A role for nuclear localised proteasomes in mediating auxin action. Plant Journal, 2002, 30(6):691-8. |
| Holroyd GH, Hetherington AM & Gray JE. A role for the cuticular waxes in the environmental control of stomatal development. New Phytologist, 153: 433-439, 2002. |
| Hunt L. & Gray JE. ABA signalling: A messenger's FIERY fate. Current Biology, 11 R968-R970,2001 |
| Ng CK-Y, McAinsh MR, Gray JE, Hunt L, Leckie CP, Mills L & Hetherington AM. Calcium-based signalling systems in guard cells. New Phytologist, 151: 109-120, 2001. |
| Bahrami AR, Chen Z-H, Walker RP., Leegood RC. & Gray JE. Ripening-related occurrence of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in tomato fruit, Plant Molecular Biology, 47, 499-506, 2001. |
| Gray, JE., Holroyd, GH., van der Lee, FM., Bahrami, AR., Sijmons, PC., Woodward, FI., Schuch, W, & Hetherington, AM. The HIC signalling pathway links CO2 perception to stomatal development. Nature 408, 713-716, 2000. |