María Elena Álvarez
Company
Departamento de Química Biológica
Address
Facultad Ciencias Químicas
Universidad Nacional Córdoba Haya de la Torre s/n
5000 Córdoba
Telephone
+54-351-4334171/68 ext. 230
E-mail
malena@mail.fcq.unc.edu.ar
COST-FA0605: Signaling control of stress tolerance and production of stress protective compounds in plants. ACRONYM: INPAS (International Network of Plant Abiotic Stress)
1. Summary of work to be allocated into a specific WG
This Partner is studying how alterations in proline metabolism occurring under biotic stress affect the activation of defense programs in Arabidopsis. The work is integrated into WG3.
2. Links with other WG and/or Subgroups
The Partner is also interested in topics from WG2, such as effects of plant chromatin remodeling on defenses induced by biotic stresses.
3. Specific activities to be integrated into WG and/or Subgroups
WG3.1: Dissection of the signaling cascades controlling proline accumulation and degradation in pathogen-treated plants.
WG3.2: Development of Arabidopsis transgenic lines for the study of proline degradation effects under biotic and abiotic stress conditions.
WG2.3: Impact of host chromatin remodeling in the activation of biotic defense programs.
4. Qualification for the role and current grants
Maria E. Alvarez is Professor at the Department of Biological Chemistry at the Faculty of Chemical Sciences of Córdoba, Argentina. She is experienced in the study of plant disease resistance and induced defenses in Arabidopsis. Her work is supported by national grants (BID 1728/OC AR PICT 32637, CONICET PIP 6349).
5. Technical expertise and facilities
This partner, skilled on the study of pathogen-induced defenses in Arabidopsis, can provide expertise for the analysis of disease/resistance features generated in response to bacterial and fungal pathogens. Studies involve entire plants or cell suspension cultures for the analysis of ROS accumulation, cell death, gene expression (real time PCR), pathogen growth curves, as well as plant transformation, reporter gene analysis by confocal microscopy, plant DNA methylation. The laboratory and services from the University of Cordoba, Argentina, have all facilities required to perform the proposed work.