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2010/03/16 Prof. Dr. Rainer Hedrich, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg

CeBiTec Colloquium

(non-scheduled)

 date 

Tuesday, March 16th 2010, 17 c.t.

 location 

G2-104, CeBiTec Building

 speaker 

Prof. Dr. Rainer Hedrich

Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics,
University of Würzburg

 title 

Molecular basis of carnivory – Excitability, movement, and endocrinology of plant traps

  Carnivorous plants (CPs) have climbed the Darwinian ladder, and have turned from prey to predator. The CPs exhibit a broad evolutionary convergence because of a strong selection in nutrient-deficient areas. Carnivory in plants has arisen several times independently. Having evolved over 65 million years ago from a common ancestor, they vary in their trapping mechanisms, but all of them capture small organisms by modified leave traps.

This seminar aims to address questions concerning the molecular origin of carnivory. Although this field is of great interest, it remained largely unexplored since Darwin’s time due to lack of carnivore genome information as well as lack of modern molecular biology, bioinformatics, cell biology, and biophysics.
Using a multidisciplinary approach the Darwin Plant Venus flytrap Dionaea muscipula, is studied in depth. This CP has the most advanced capture systems. The mechano sensor (trigger hair), electromechanical trap, and endocrine system (glands) appear well separated.
It is a model for plant action potential since Burdon-Sanderson 1873.

The seminar will be subdivided into four major subjects
  1. Genome/Transcriptom Profiling to study the genetic make-up of carnivorous plants (CPs) and the evolution of carnivory
  2. Origin of Excitability: Is CPs gained the inventory to fire action potentials from captured animals or rather evolved excitability independently?
  3. Prey Recognition on the basis of mechanical- and chemical senses
  4. Endocrinology: CPs offers a unique system to study the biology of digestive glands in plants.
 host 

Prof. Dr. Alfred Pühler