Research focus
Technologies for systematic gene function analysis in plant cells
Despite decades of plant biology research, functions have been assigned to only a minority of plant genes. To accelerate the pace of discovery, we have created Arabidopsis genome-scale profiling microarrays, including DNA spotted arrays for transcript profiling and promoter analysis, as well as oligonucleotide tiling arrays. We have also built versatile Arabidopsis cloned sequence repertoires, compatible with recombinational cloning, for large-scale gain-of-function (overexpression) and loss-of-function (RNA interference) studies. In parallel, as an alternative to stable transgenics, we are developing high-content and high-throughput protocols for screening single plant cell phenotypes, based on automated microscopic analysis and algorithmic image segmentation. Our first operational platform is designed to track the division of individual Arabidopsis cells and enables the identification of compounds and genetic perturbations that control mitosis.
Intercellular signalling
In recent years, peptide hormones carrying cell-to-cell signals have been shown to control a wide range of biological processes in higher plants but their mode of action is still largely unknown. In a gain-of-function screen, we have identified a novel family of peptide hormones called GOLVEN (GLV) that control tropic growth and meristem homeostasis. Interestingly, GLV activity regulates the trafficking of auxin transporters, establishing a mechanistic link between peptide and phytohormone signalling. We are dissecting the pathways necessary for GLV function, and studying where and when the GLV bioactive peptides are secreted and perceived.
Related websites
Publications
GOLVEN Secretory Peptides Regulate Auxin Carrier Turnover during Plant Gravitropic ResponsesWhitford R, Fernandez A, Tejos R, Pérez A, Kleine-Vehn J, Vanneste S, Drozdzecki A, Leitner J, Abas L, Aerts M, Hoogewijs K, Baster P, De Groodt R, Lin Y, Storme V, Van de Peer Y, Beeckman T, Madder A, Devreese B, Luschnig C, Friml J, Hilson PDEVELOPMENTAL CELL, 22, 678-85, 2012 Genome-scale Arabidopsis promoter array identifies targets of the histone acetyltransferase GCN5Benhamed M, Martin-Magniette M, Taconnat L, Bitton F, Servet C, De Clercq R, De Meyer B, Buysschaert C, Rombauts S, Villarroel R, Aubourg S, Beynon J, Bhalerao R, Coupland G, Gruissem W, Menke F, Weisshaar B, Renou J, Zhou D, Hilson PPLANT JOURNAL, 56, 493-504, 2008
News
21/06/2006 - The European Commission is devoting €12 million to AGRON-OMICS, a plant research consortium spearheaded by Pierre Hilson and Dirk Inzé of the Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) and Ghent University. 14/10/2004 - Researchers from VIB are accelerating the study of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Taking advantage of RNAi technology, they study the function of genes with the aid of specially designed fragments that turn off the corresponding genes.
 Pierre HilsonResearch area(s)Model organism(s)BioPh.D.: Gembloux Agricultural Univ., Gembloux, Belgium, 1991 VIB Group leader since 2002 VIB Division Coordinator since 2002 Contact Info
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