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SUMMARY:γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a plant signalling molecule - Matth
 ew Gilliham\, Professor of Crop Molecular Physiology\, University of Adela
 ide\, Australia
DTSTART:20190523T120000Z
DTEND:20190523T130000Z
UID:TALK123805@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Alex Webb
DESCRIPTION:The non-protein amino acid γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has bee
 n proposed to be an ancient messenger for cellular communication conserved
  across biological kingdoms. GABA has well-defined signalling roles in ani
 mals\; however\, whilst GABA accumulates in plants under stress and influe
 nces plant tissue growth\, it has not been determined if\, how and when GA
 BA acts as an endogenous plant signalling molecule. Here\, we establish th
 at endogenous GABA is a bona fide plant signal. We demonstrate GABA antago
 nises Arabidopsis thaliana stomatal movement in response to opening and cl
 osing stimuli to modulate transpirational water loss via direct inhibition
  of stomatal guard cell plasma membrane and tonoplast-localised anion tran
 sporters. We determine that GABA production within guard cells is necessar
 y and sufficient to influence stomatal aperture as drought tolerance can b
 e restored to GABA synthesis mutants through stomatal-specific genetic com
 plementation\, but not by mesophyll-specific complementation. Furthermore\
 , we show that GABA control of stomatal movement is widely conserved acros
 s plant families including valuable dicot and monocot crops. Our finding t
 hat GABA augments guard cell signalling to fine tune plant water loss demo
 nstrates that GABA is a novel plant signalling molecule that acts via a me
 chanism not found in animals. This discovery opens new avenues for manipul
 ating crop water use and tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress. \n\n\nMat
 t's group studies the transport and signalling processes that underpin imp
 rovements in crop nutrition and stress tolerance. His research scales from
  genetics\, through cell biology and whole plant physiology. Where applica
 ble\, his lab's fundamental research is then applied through plant breedin
 g to modify signalling and transport processes in plants to improve crop y
 ield and quality in the field. His main areas of study include salinity to
 lerance\, anionic nutrition and GABA signalling.\n \nHe is a program leade
 r in the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence in Plant E
 nergy Biology\, Chief Investigator on the ARC Training Centre for Innovati
 ve Wine Production\, Deputy Head of School (Research) for the School of Ag
 riculture\, Food and Wine\, recent Honorary Secretary of the Australian So
 ciety for Plant Scientists\, convenor for the Adapting to abiotic stress a
 nd climate change special interest group of the Society for Experimental B
 iology and Monitoring Editor for Plant Physiology.\n\nMatt gained a BSc in
  Ecology from Lancaster University and a PhD from the Department of Plant 
 Sciences\, University of Cambridge. After a postdoc spent between Cambridg
 e and Australia\, he immigrated to Australia to run the Plant Transport an
 d Signalling Laboratory at the Waite Campus\, University of Adelaide\, in 
 2006.\n\nMatt will talk about his group’s latest work on elucidating a n
 ew signaling pathway in plants. \n
LOCATION:Department of Plant Sciences\, Large Lecture Theatre
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