Goethals Siel
Goethals Siel - Predoctoral fellow
De Clercq Inge
De Clercq Inge - Junior Group leader
Inter-organelle Stress Signalling
To be able to survive constantly changing and often harmful environmental conditions, plants must continuously adapt. Therefore, plants have complex mechanisms that sense and transduce environmental stimuli into adaptive and defence responses. Organelles within the cell are thought to be important sensors of such stresses, such as water limitation or pathogen attack. They communicate their stressed status with the nucleus to activate tolerance mechanisms and defence responses against the incoming stresses. We have previously revealed a novel mechanism of how mitochondria, chloroplasts, and the endoplasmic reticulum communicate stress signals to coordinate stress signal transduction into adaptive responses in the nucleus. However, we still lack a profound mechanistic understanding of how organelles cooperate with each other during stress responses. The signalling sources within the organelles, their release and/or propagation, and their perception by other organelles and eventually by the nucleus are still enigmatic. Therefore, the Inter-organelle Stress Signalling team performs studies to understand the complex organelle-organelle and organelle-to-nucleus cross-talk using high-end multi-omics and cell biology approaches.De Veirman Lindsy
De Veirman Lindsy - Predoctoral fellow
Lindsy graduated with a Master in Biochemistry and Biotechnology from Ghent University in 2023. During her Master thesis in the lab of Prof. Frank Van Breusegem (VIB-UGent PSB), she focused on the role of cysteine oxidative post-translational modifications, more specifically protein sulfinylation, and the role of sulfiredoxin in the oxidative stress response in plants. After her Master thesis, she started in the lab of Prof. Bert De Rybel (VIB-UGent PSB), working on the Plant Single Cell Platform. During her time on the platform she gained novel knowledge and skills using single cell and single nuclei transcriptomics technologies. Later in 2024, Lindsy started her PhD journey in the group of Prof. Inge De Clercq (VIB-UGent PSB) where she studies the post-translational regulation mechanisms of membrane-bound transcription factors during mitochondrial retrograde signaling.
How pathogens counterattack
In order to obtain specific and sustainable solutions for crop protection, we need a better understanding of the molecular interactions between plants and phytopathogens. Intracellular organelles such as chloroplasts and mitochondria play a pivotal role in plant immune responses. Our team aims to identify pathogen-secreted effector proteins that target the plant host organelles.
Understanding inter-organellar communication by contact sites
Due to their tight integration into the cell’s metabolic and signaling networks, organelles are in a prime position to communicate stress signals and coordinate optimal adaptive responses. However, we lack a profound understanding of how these organelles communicate stress signals with each other. In our lab we study a novel mechanism of communication between organelles, more specifically, by their direct physical association, through the identification of stress-induced contact sites with the use of state-of-the-art live-cell imaging and proteomics methods.
VIB welcomes MSCA fellows
The Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions of the EU offer postdoctoral fellowships to talented researchers. These MSCA fellowships provide an opportunity for young scientists to conduct research in foreign countries, gain expertise, and advance their professional pursuits. VIB is pleased to welcome four new Marie Curie fellows this year.