Abstract: Plant energy organelles such as chloroplasts are central to the evolution and function of plants; indeed it can be argued that chloroplasts are the raison d’ȇtre for plants. However, chloroplasts and mitochondria are more than just energy factories because they are also stress sensors and regulators of cellular acclimation to environmental challenges. In this talk, I will discuss my research in organellar signalling involving chloroplasts and mitochondria. I will highlight progress made in understanding structural-biochemical regulation of organelle signalling; the intersection between organelle signalling pathways and broader cellular processes; and efforts to develop new tools for more precise manipulation of organelle signalling. Finally, I will briefly outline my future ANU research programme to unravel the complex interplay between organelle signalling, metabolism and plant function.

Biography: Kai Xun Chan obtained a PhD in Plant Sciences from the Australian National University (ANU) in 2015; working on the biochemistry and structural biology of a chloroplast signalling enzyme. He then continued onto a postdoc position to study the intersection between chloroplast signalling and other plant processes such as stomatal closure and circadian regulation; as well as establishing a chemical biology screening platform to identify novel regulators of chloroplast signalling. During this time Kai won a JG Russell medal for best PhD thesis in Science and Engineering, as well as ACT Scientist of the Year and Young Tall Poppy awards for early career researchers. In 2018, Kai obtained Marie Skladowska-Curie and Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) postdoctoral fellowships to move to the VIB Ghent Centre for Plant Systems Biology, Belgium. Here he has focused on crosstalk between chloroplast and mitochondrial signalling via alternative splicing in the nucleus, as well as cell-specialisation of oxidative stress signalling pathways. Kai will return to ANU in 2022 as an ARC DECRA fellow and independent group leader, where he will investigate organelle signalling in different fundamental plant processes such as cell-specialisation of C₄ photosynthesis.