Molecular Genetics and Plant Cell Biology
Multicellular organisms cope with the challenge of maintaining efficient communication between different organs and tissues to coordinate growth and responses to the environment. Both, plants and animals produce biologically active compounds such as small peptides that move between cells through the vascular system or intercellular spaces and regulate plethora of developmental processes and stress responses. In plants, in addition to major hormones, a myriad of secreted peptides orchestrates optimal growth and adaptation to environmental changes. Our lab is interested to unravel the functions of the CLAVATA3/EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION (CLE) peptides and their cognate receptors in the control of the water conducting tissue formation and in the plant adaptation to abiotic stresses. In addition, we aim to develop new tools to tag and track the precursors and mature CLE peptides in planta. In collaboration with structural biology and organic chemistry laboratories as well as with our Proteomics Platform at UniFR, we use a combination of genetic approaches, molecular design, proteomics, cell biology, high-resolution confocal microscopy and plant physiology assays.
Dr. Ora Hazak
University of Fribourg
Department of Biology
1700 Fribourg
Tel: +41 (0)78 952 9996