Plant Science

Title: Regulation and genetic manipulation of GA biosynthesis

We are studying the molecular mechanisms that regulate gibberellin levels in plants, concentrating on the 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases that catalyse the later steps in the biosynthetic pathway. Approaches include the use of promoter-reporter gene fusions (see GA20ox1:LUC expression in Arabidopsis below), quantitative RT-PCR, in situ hybridisation and the analysis of protein-DNA interactions by in vivo footprinting and gel retardation. We are also manipulating and growth and development of transgenic plants, both model and crop species, through the manipulation of GA biosynthesis and catabolism (see over- and antisense expression of GA20ox1 in Arabidopsis, below).

		1. Expression of luciferase driven by the GA20ox1 promoter in transgenic Arabidopsis; false colour image captured by a cooled-CCD camera.
		2. Manipulation of GA levels in transgenic Arabidopsis: over- and antisense-expression of GA20ox1 (left and right, resp.) compared with a control plant (centre).