Molecular mechanism of male reproduction in cereals

Comprehensive training of functional gene research combined with plant science, cell biology, and developmental biology.

Male gametophytes develop in the anther compartment of the stamen within the flower and require cooperative functional interactions between gametophytic and sporophytic tissues. During the male reproductive development, there are numerous biological events including cell division, differentiation and degeneration of somatic tissues consisting of four concentric cell layers surrounding and supporting reproductive cells as they form mature pollen grains through meiosis and mitosis.

This honours project will take practice of systematic biology (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabonomics) into our available resources in SJTU (Shanghai Jiao Tong University) & UoA Joint Laboratory for Plant Sciences and breeding, which elucidates the molecular mechanism underlying each biological process of male reproduction in rice and barley.

In summary, this project will ideally suit an enthusiastic student who is interested in comprehensive training of functional gene research combined with plant science, cell biology, and developmental biology.

You will develop skills in:

• Molecular techniques including genomic DNA extraction, PCR techniques, DNA sequence analysis, RNA extraction and qRT-PCR performance, CRISPR-Cas9
• Protein biochemistry and interaction including protein expression and purification in E. coli, SDS-PAGE, Western-blot, Co-immunoprecipitation, Pull-down, Bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay (BiFC), and Yeast two hybrid
• Cellular biological skills, such as, Confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM), Immunolocalization and Inverted microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM)
• Data analysis, interpretation and reporting
• Critical evaluation of the literature and scientific writing

Key References:

Wilson ZA and Zhang DB. Journal of Experimental Botany. 2009, 60(5), 1479-1492.

Zhang, DB., and Yang, L. Curr. Opin. Plant Biol. 2014, 17: 49–55.