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Membrane Traffic and Signaling during Plant DevelopmentTelephone: (919) 962-3216 E-mail: liljegren@unc.edu Office: 402 Coker Hall Mailing Address: Assistant Professor (Initial Appointment:
2003) |
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Biology 205 Course Page | Biology 057 Course Page Synopsis Specialized cell types allow plants to shed a diverse array of structures, including leaves, flowers and fruit, through the carefully orchestrated process of cell separation. The research focus of the Liljegren lab is to investigate how membrane trafficking controls cell adhesion and other aspects of plant development using Arabidopsis as a model system. We have discovered that an ARF G-protein regulator, NEVERSHED, likely regulates the movement of key cargo molecules required for floral organ shedding. Using nev mutant flowers as a sensitized genetic background, we have identified a set of receptor-like kinases-EVERSHED, SERK1, and CAST AWAY-that act as spatial and temporal inhibitors of organ separation. We are currently testing whether these kinases affect the internalization or sorting of the HAESA and HAESA-LIKE2 receptor-like kinases known to activate organ separation. We are also analyzing the broader roles of NEVERSHED and other ARF GTPase-activating proteins in regulating membrane traffic during plant growth and cell expansion.
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