Arie Altman
Company
The Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture
Address
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, P.O.Box 12
76100 Rehovot
Telephone
x-972-8-948477
E-mail
altman@agri.huji.ac.il
Web
http://departments.agri.huji.ac.il/plantscience/staff-eng/arie-altman.html
1. Summary of work to be allocated into a specific WG
I am using a systems biology approach to study the function and distribution of key metabolites and specific proteins in abiotic stress responses, in poplar (Populus sp.), tomato, Arabidopsis and Thellungiella halophila.
The work is mostly integrated into WG3 (with emphasis on stress-associated metabolites and unique chaperone-like proteins).
2. Links with other WG and/or Subgroups
The work is also linked with WG2.6 (with emphasis on comparison of stress-associated metabolites in T. halophyla and Arabidopsis.
3. Specific activities to be integrated into WG and/or Subgroubs
WG 3: Expression of genes involved in the production of osmo-protectants.
We are studying overall metabolic profiles using GC-MS analysis of some 40-50 metabolites (sugars, amino acids, organic and fatty acids, and others) to identify key changes in 4 different salt sensitive and tolerant plants ((Populus tremula and Populus euphratica (both wild type), tomato (wild type and betA-trangenic lines), Arabidopsis thaliana (wild type and RNAi lines) and wild type Thellungiella halophila-salsuginea), in response to salt stress and recovery from stress, either in situ or under controlled conditions.
In addition, we are studying the regulation of synthesis, characteristics, stability and activity of specific proteins with chaperone-like functions, e.g., the Populus SP1 and the Arabidopsis AtSP.
WG 2: Genetic identification of signaling factors controlling ABA, salt, osmotic, drought and cold regulated transcription. Subgroup WG2.6
We are studying the physiological and molecular nature of stress adaptation in Thellungiella halophyla and its close relative A. thaliana. Included are metabolite profiling (see above) and expression of chaperone-like proteins (as above), including also ion accumulation, water content etc.
4. Qualification for the role and current grants
Arie Altman is Full Professor at the Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Faculty of Agriculture, Rehovot) in Israel. He has more than 40 years of experience in plant sciences research, especially tissue culture, biotechnology, propagation, plant physiology and biochemistry. During the last 20 years he is involved mainly in molecular aspects of abiotic stress tolerance, including metabolite profiling, stress-associated proteins and transformation. This experience resulted in over 170 publications. Over the last couple of years, the work was financed by EU grants, national and international grants.
5. Technical expertise and facilities
This partner will provide his experience required for GC-MS determination of a variety of metabolites, analysis of chaperone-like proteins, along with his experience in plant tissue regeneration and cell culture, transformation and physiological and molecular biological techniques. The laboratory and scientific services of the Hebrew University have the equipment and facilities to carry out the required studies.