Research project (Forschungsprojekt):

 

	Molecular mechanism and signal transduction of resistance in cereal plants
	Molekulare Mechanismen und Signaltransduktion der Resistenz in Getreide

 Research areas (Forschungsschwerpunkte): 

• Elucidation of signal transduction processes of induced resistance in cereals (Untersuchung der induzierten Resistenz in Getreide, insbesondere im Hinblick auf die Signaltransduktionsprozesse, die in der Pflanze ablaufen) 
• Wounding response in plants; Wound-induced gene expression (Kontrolle der Verwundungsantwort; Verwundungsinduzierte Genexpression) 
• Growth control in the model system rice coleoptile. Role of auxin response factors in growth control. Characterization of rice auxin response factor 1 (OsARF1) (Wachstumskontrolle im Modellsystem Reiskoleoptile: Die Rolle der ARF (auxin response factor) Transkriptionsfaktoren; Charakterisierung des Reis auxin response factor 1 (OsARF1)) 

Techniques (Verwendete Techniken): 

• Northern-, Western- and Southern-Blot (Northern-, Western- und Southern-Blot) 
• Screening of differential gene expression patterns by cDNA Micro-and Macroarrays; Fluorescent Differential Display (Screening von Genexpressionsmustern mittels Mikro- und Makroarrays; Differential Display) 
• Quantitative RT-PCR; RACE-PCR; AFLP (Quantitative RT-PCR; RACE-PCR; AFLP) 
• DNA-Shift experiments (DNA electromobility shift assays) (DNA Bindeexperimente (DNA-Shift Experimente)) 
• Expression and purification of recombinant proteins in prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems (Expression und Aufreinigung von rekombinanten Proteinen (eukaryotische und prokayotische Systeme))
• FLuorescence microscopy and Laser-Scanning-Confocal microscopy (Fluoreszenzmikroskopie und Laser-Scanning-Konfokalmikroskopie) 
• Transient transformation and reporter gene expression (Transiente Transformation und Reportergenexpression) 
• Production of transgenic rice and tobacco plants (sense, antisense, RNAi) (Herstellung von transgenen Reis- und Tabakpflanzen (sense, antisense, RNAi))

Publications (Publikationen): 

1. Frank Waller, Beate Achatz and Karl-Heinz Kogel (2006) Analysis of the Plant Protective Potential of the root endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica in cereals. Advanced Techniques in Soil Sciences, Springer Soil Biology Series, review article (in press).
2. Frank Waller, Axel Müller, Kwi-Mi Chung, Yun-Kiam Yap, Kimiyo Nakamura, Elmar Weiler and Hiroshi Sano (2006) Expression of a WIPK-Activated Transcription Factor Results in Increase of Endogenous Salicylic Acid and Pathogen Resistance in Tobacco Plants. Plant and Cell Physiology 47(8) doi:10.1093/pcp/pcj079
3. Waller F, Baltruschat H, Achatz B, Becker K, Fischer M, Fodor J,Heier T, Hückelhoven R, Neumann C, von Wettstein D, Franken P, Kogel K-H (2005) The endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica reprograms barley to salt stress tolerance, disease resistance and higher yield. PNAS 102:13386-91. 
4. Yap YK, Kodama Y, Waller F, Chung KM, Ueda H, Nakamura K, Oldsen M, Yoda H, Yamaguchi Y, Sano H. (2005) Activation of a Novel Transcription Factor through Phosphorylation by WIPK, a Wound-Induced Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase in Tobacco Plants. Plant Physiology 139: 127-37. 
5. Chaban C, Waller F, Furuya M, Nick P (2003) Auxin Responsiveness of a Novel Cytochrome P450 in Rice Coleoptiles. Plant Physiology 133: 2000-2009. 
6. Waller F, Furuya M, Nick P (2002) OsARF1, an auxin response factor from rice, is auxin-regulated and classifies as a primary auxin responsive gene. Plant Molecular Biology 50(3): 415-425. 
7. Waller F, Riemann M, Nick P (2002) A role for actin-driven secretion in auxin-induced growth. Protoplasma 219: 72-81. 
8. Waller F, Wang QY, Nick P (2000) Actin and signal-controlled cell elongation in coleoptiles. In: Staiger CJ, Baluska F, Volkmann D, Barlow P (Ed.): Actin: A Dynamic Framework for Multiple Plant Cell Functions: 477-496. Kluwer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. 
9. Waller F, Nick P (1997) Response of actin microfilaments during phytochrome-controlled growth of maize seedlings. Protoplasma 200, 154-162. 

Büro (office): B329, Tel.: + 49 641/99-37496
Labor (lab): L336, Tel.: +49 641/99-37480

Fax: +49 0641/99-37499
Email: Frank.Walleragrar.uni-giessen.de