NATO Postdoctoral Fellow. T he sensing of sugars leading to responses at the metabolic and genetic levels are fundamental processes that underlie all aspects of plant growth and development. We are studying mechanisms of sugar sensing, signal transduction and regulation of gene expression in plants. Research has focussed on expression of genes encoding malate synthase and isocitrate lyase. We have identified a DNA sequence in both genes required for repression by sugars, and have isolated a transcription factor which recognises this sequence.
Future work aims to isolate upstream signal transduction components using mutants of Arabidopsis.
In current work with Arabidopsis we have isolated several mutants lacking enzymes of carbon metabolism, including hexose transporters. We are investigating the role of such transporters in salvaging and sensing cell wall sugars, leading to specific changes in gene expression and metabolism within the cell. This project is part of a pan-European programme which I coordinate. I n another project we are studing the roles of specific enzymes in starch metabolism. Potato D-enzyme catalyses the cyclisation of amylose to produce cycloamylose, a novel cyclic glucan.