Aviah Zilberstein
Company
Tel Aviv University
Address
Department of Plant Sciences
Ramat Aviv
69978 Tel Aviv
Telephone
+972 3-640-7410
E-mail
aviah@post.tau.ac.il
Web
http://www.tau.ac.il/lifesci/departments/plant_s/members/zilberstein/zilberstien.html
1. Summary of work to be allocated into a specific WG
This partner is studying signaling and structural components involved in abiotic stress signaling using a forward genetics approach that has been recently developed (WG1, WG2, WG3, WG4). Regulatory components controlling proline cycle in plants and leading to the accumulation of proline as a protective osmolyte are being investigated (WG3). Proline-rich proteins and their involvement in stress tolerance and in the formation of cell wall, plasma membrane and cytoskeleton continuum are characterized (WG3). The involvement of transcription factors in controlling glutamate-derived amino acid biosynthesis under different stress conditions is also being studied (WG1, WG2, WG3).
2. Links with other WG and/or Subgroups
The work is linked to all four WGs as is indicated in section 1 and below.
3. Specific activities to be integrated into WG and/or Subgroups
WG1 to WG4 are linked by many common components that are involved in different signal transduction pathways initiated by various abiotic stresses. Our general forward genetics approach identifies such components and their role is gradually characterized.
WG1.1 WG1.4, WG1.6: Characterizing the involvement SnRK1/2 kinases in regulating amino acid biosynthesis under stress conditions.
WG2.1: Identigying regulatory proteins associated with ABA, drought and salinity responses by using T-DNA tagged mutants detected by our new forward genetics approach.
WG3.1: Studying regulatory pathways that affect proline cycle during stress imposition.
WG3.2: Identifying regulatory steps in glutamate derived amino acid pathways that lead to metabolic shifts in response to abiotic stress, darkness and sugar starvation.
WG3.4: Studying bZIP transcription factors involved in the synthesis of glutamate-derived amino acids and their broader involvement in activation of gene transcription during stress.
WG4.1: Studying the crosstalk between regulatory pathways that control amino acid and PA biosynthesis.
4. Qualification for the role and current grants
Aviah Zilberstein is an associate professor in the Department of Plant Science at Tel Aviv University, Israel. Her group is focused on studying abiotic and biotic stress effects in model plants such as Arabidopsis and Cakile maritima as well as in stress adapted crop plants and trees. The work is currently being supported by binational Italian-Israeli and Indian-Israeli foundations.
5. Technical expertise and facilities
This partner will provide experience in developing forward genetics approaches for the identification of regulatory and structural proteins involved in stress response and stress tolerance. Experience in metabolic profiling of different plants using GC-MS is also offered. Experience in transcription factor identification by the yeast one hybrid system as well as in studying cytoskeleton and cell membrane fluorescently tagged components will also be provided.