The KBC Days 2009 will take place on 16-17 November 2009

All members of the KBC-Departments are welcome to two days of communication, celebration and inspiration. We cordially invite our research partners and friends who like to learn more about our centre.

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Department of Chemistry

Seminar

Sacha Baginsky

Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Institut für Biochemie und Biotechnologie, Abteilung Pflanzenbiochemie

 

Title:

 Functional characterization of plant proteome dynamics

 

Place : Lilla hörsalen, KB3A9, KBC

Host Christiane Funk

Abstract: 

Different functional proteomics tools are now available that enable the quantitative characterization of proteome dynamics and the mapping of posttranslational modifications. We report here examples how we used these tools to characterize the functional proteome of Arabidopsis and rice cell organelles, with a focus on the plant-specific plastids. We analyzed the Arabidopsis proteome at genome-scale and provide quantitative information about organellar proteomes in different plant organs by "normalized spectral counting" (Science, 320: 938-41). For a functional characterization of plastid protein import, we analyzed the proteomes of plastid protein import mutants and searched for N-terminal acetylated peptides in genome-scale WT, ppi1 and ppi2 proteomics data. These analyses revealed the accumulation of precursor proteins in the cytosol of the import mutants. In order to assess the short-term regulation of the chloroplast proteome in response to environmental signals, we analyzed the chloroplast phosphoproteome and characterized its dynamics during a circadian cycle (Plant Physiol, 150: 889-903). Differential protein phosphorylation was assessed by relative protein quantification with "extracted ion chromatograms". We present here our data, comment on reliability and reproducibility and propose strategies to increase both at a reasonable cost.

Sacha Baginsky

Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Institut für Biochemie und Biotechnologie, Abteilung Pflanzenbiochemie, Weinbergweg 22 (Biozentrum),

06120 Halle (Saale)

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Seminar


Speaker:
David Hodge
Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
Michigan State University

Title
Understanding and Enhancing Alkaline and Oxidative Chemical Pretreatments for the Production of Cellulosic Biofuels through Improved Characterization

Host: Hannele Tuominen

Place: Seminar room KB3B3 at KBC

Abstract:

This seminar will present recent research on improving technologies for oxidative chemical pretreatments and alkaline fractionation of plant biomass. One theme underlying this research is how improved characterization of the chemical, structural, and physical changes to the plant cell wall and the spectrum of compounds solubilized from the cell wall can better inform technologies for plant cell wall deconstruction and conversion to renewable fuels and chemicals. The work presented on these technologies will span four areas that include: (1) characterizing how lignin properties (S/G ratio, p-hydroxycinnamic acid content, and total lignin content) and their alteration during alkaline hydrogen peroxide (AHP) pretreatment impacts enzymatic digestibility for grasses with diverse lignin phenotypes, (2) characterizing the impacts of pretreatment on the extractability/accessibility of the non-cellulosic polysaccharides in the cell walls of diverse plants using "glycome profiling" or screening a library of 156 monoclonal antibodies against polysaccharide epitopes, (3) identifying the spectrum of fermentation inhibitors generated by AHP pretreatment of grasses for high-sugar concentration fermentation by xylose-fermenting Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains and demonstration of improved xylose fermentation and hydrolysate tolerance through evolutionary engineering, and (4) quantifying the impact of AHP pretreatment on plant cell wall water swelling capacity and how the water-cell wall environment influences its susceptibility to enzymatic hydrolysis.