Kalliopi A Roubelakis-Angelakis
Company
University of Crete
Address
Department of Biology
PO Box 2208
71409 Heraklion
Telephone
+30 2810 394073
E-mail
poproube@biology.uoc.gr
1. Summary of work to be allocated into a specific WG
This Partner’s Laboratory is working with the identification of the role(s) of glutamate dehydrogenase gene(s) in stress response. Recently they have shown that ‘Abiotic Stress Generates ROS That Signal Expression of Anionic Glutamate Dehydrogenases to Form Glutamate for Proline Synthesis in Tobacco and Grapevine. Plant Cell 2006:18:2767-2781 http://Doi:10.111/j.1365-294x.2006.03049.x; and also that ‘The Isoenzyme Seven of Tobacco NAD(H)-Dependent Glutamate Dehydrogenase Exhibits High Deaminating and Low Aminating Activities in vivo’. Plant Physiol. 2007: 145:1726-1734. Furthermore, this Partner’s Lab works towards understanding the physiological role(s) of polyamines (PA). They have studied the homeostasis of all fractions of PAs in grapevine and tobacco plants (Plant Physiol 2005:138: 142-152 http://www.plantphysiol.org/cgi/reprint/138/1/142; Plant Physiol 2005 138: 2174-2184 http://www.plantphysiol.org/cgi/reprint/138/4/2174). Also, the contribution of polyamine oxidase in stress response(s) is being studied, using transgenic tobacco plants and Arabidopsis mutants. The work is linked to WG2,WG3 and WG4.
2. Links with other WG and/or Subgroups.
The work is also linked with WG1.6, WG1.7, WG3.2, WG4.3 in order to study interactions with other signaling/metabolic pathways.
3. Specific activities to be integrated into WG and/or Subgroubs
The identification of the role(s) of glutamate dehydrogenase gene(s) in stress response and their contribution in the homeostasis of glutamate, a key metabolite in the biosynthesis of osmoprotectants can be integrated in theWG3.1. Also, the available in the Lab transgenics with altered the gdh and samdc gene can be integrated in WG3.3. Furthermore, the Arabidopsis pao mutants and tobacco transgenics can be integrated in WG4 and its subgroups.
4. Qualification for the role and current grants
Professor Kalliopi Roubelakis-Angelakis holds a B.S. in Plant Sci. (Agric. Univ. of Athens), M.S. in Food Biochemistry, M.S. in Viticulture and Ph.D. in Plant Molecular Physiology from the University of California, Davis. She was (2000-2002) the President of the Federation of European Societies of Plant Biology and organized the 13th FESPP Congress in Crete, in September 2002 (http://www.biology.uoc.gr/meetings/ FESPP/index.htm). Since 2004 she has been the Secretary General of FESPB. She coordinates a post-graduate programme in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the University of Crete. She is the Director of the Plant Physiology and Biotechnology Laboratory at the Department of Biology, University of Crete (http://www.biology.uoc.gr/post/plant/estart.htm). Her team consists of 2 post-docs, 2 technicians, 7 graduate students and several undergraduate students. She was the editor of the book ‘Plant Morphogenesis:Molecular Approaches’ (Plenum Publ., 1993) and ‘Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of the Grapevine’ (Kluwer Publ., 2003) which received the 2002 Prize award by the International Office of Grapevine and Wine (OIV). She has co-authored more than 150 publications in international peer-reviewed Journals, invited chapters in international books, and in Proceedings of International Congresses. She has also developed the Greek Vitis Database (www.biology.uoc.gr/gvd). She has been member of editorial committees, is reviewer in numerous international scientific Journals, has evaluated research proposals for EU and international funding agencies, has participated in evaluation committees of faculty members in European Universities, invited speaker in numerous international congresses and in scientific and organizing committees of international scientific congresses. She is member of the European Teaching Biology at European level and the BIOTECHnet. She has been responsible for the management and implementation of several national and EU-funded research projects.
5. Technical expertise and facilities
This partner has all the expertise required for molecular work, such as Southern and Western blotting, PAGE, quantitative real-time RT-PCR, gene cloning and characterization of recombinant proteins, plant transformation, yeast two-hybrid screens, etc. Also, a HPLC method for the determination of polyamines (Kotzabasis et al. 1996. Analyt. Biochem. 214: 484-489), determination of polyamine metabolic enzyme activities, and also experience on plant tissue and cell culture and molecular biological techniques are available. The laboratory and Scientific Services of the University of Crete have the equipment and facilities to carry out the work allocated.