RESEARCH

A variety of research projects are being undertaken by the faculty of the Institute. Based on the study subjects and research goals, the projects can be roughly classified into three categories which regard (1) molecular pathogen-host interaction, (2) molecular plant development and (3) application-oriented researches. The major pathogens under investigation include Bamboo mosaic virus, Geminivirus, Infectious bursal disease virus and Pseudomonas syringae. Taking Bamboo mosaic virus as an example, the functions of the virus-encoded proteins and the various RNA motifs have been intensively studied by teamwork for two decades. A handful of plant host proteins involved in various biological processes such as virus replication, virus cell-to-cell movement and plant innate defense mechanism have been identified by means such as differential expression of plant proteins in response to the virus infection and UV-induced crosslinking between plant proteins and the viral RNA. The effects of those host proteins on the viral proliferation and the in-depth mechanisms involved have been investigated by a variety of genetic, biochemical and biophysical tools. With respect to molecular plant development, the organs and organelle which have been targeted include flower, pollen, rice embryo, and oil body. The genes that regulate floral initiation, formation and senescence have been identified from Arabidopsis thaliana and a variety of horticultural flowers. Some proteins that specifically express in pollen and embryo have also been identified and functionally characterized. Goals of application-oriented researches include, but not limit to, platform development for protein expression, vaccine development, transgenic plant development, active compound identification from remedial herbs and novel enzyme identification from microbes. The details about each of the research achievements can be accessed through the individual websites of the faculty.