Hello ASPS members,
The latest issue of Phytogen is available HERE.
The last issue of the Global Plant Council e-Bulletin can be accessed HERE.
The Aquaporin Workshop is open to everyone, it’s free and online, https://cbrin.com.au/events/aquaporins-solutions-exploring-how-aquaporins-can-solve-food-and-water-challenges/
Session 1 – Monday 2nd November – understanding aquaporin regulation
Session 2 – Tuesday 10th November – characterising plant aquaporins
Session 3 – Monday 16th November – using aquaporins to solve real world problems
Session 4 – Monday 23rd November – pitching ideas for solving aquaporin mysteries
Please note that separate registration links and timing information for each session are included within the above website link.
The proceedings include an outstanding collection of video talks from international and national speakers, and we will have representatives from a number of industry organisations participating.
In addition to the talks there will be interactive workshop challenge activities. Examples of the types of challenge topics are included below:
– How can we determine which endogenous molecules in cells are key in influencing aquaporin regulation? – Which native molecules synthesised by cells have ‘secret lives’ as aquaporin regulatory agents?
– The function of many aquaporins can be influenced by calcium, cyclic nucleotide, reactive oxygen species, hormone and phosphorylation kinase signalling, among other regulatory factors; how can we confirm the hierarchy in the order of influence of these signals?
– Throughout evolution aquaporins with many different types of functions have been selected for – have we scratched the surface of determining the complement of different roles of different types of aquaporins?
– How do we figure out what the role of aquaporins in organelles might be?
– What is the pathway for water and cation transport through aquaporins, is it via monomeric or tetrameric channels or does it depend on the specific aquaporin?
– How could diversity in aquaporin function be leveraged for medical applications? – How could manipulation of aquaporin function be achieved to reduce fluid pressure related problems associated with living in low gravity environments, and how can we figure out the complement of fluid and pressure related disorders that involve altered aquaporin regulation?
– How could diversity in aquaporin function be leveraged for crop improvement? – How do we test the relative proportion of water that moves through plasmodesmata relative to moving though aquaporins?
– Over-expression of some aquaporins increases tolerance to osmotic stress, whereas overexpression of other aquaporin isoforms reduces tolerance. Why?
– Can we distinguish the influence of ion channel aquaporins on root-to-shoot ion flux given that ion flux could be influenced directly by aquaporin ion transport and indirectly by the influence of aquaporins on transpiration?
– How do aquaporins control tissue-scale hydraulics to regulate plant responses to the environment?
– Is there any evidence that switching of aquaporin water and ion channel functions could have a role in charging membrane potential to power other ion transport processes?
– How many different segments and end applications, that are compatible with a circular green economy, could aquaporins be involved in? – Aquaporins are already used in space for water filtration, what other applications are there for ‘designer’ aquaporins for enabling successful colonization of space and more sustainable life on Earth?
Please share with any colleagues who may be interested in these topics.
Thank you in advance,
Caitlin Byrt.