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» Research » Research groups » Byrt Group – Engineering plant membrane proteins and solute transport to increase yield securityByrt Group – Engineering plant membrane proteins and solute transport to increase yield security
Molecular membrane separation: plants inspire new technologies. New Phytologist, 238(1), pp.33-54.
Our crop yields are limited by osmotic stresses, which often occur as a result of drought and salinity. There is potential for us to be able to improve crop osmotic stress tolerance by manipulating the function of aquaporins. Aquaporins are membrane intrinsic proteins, which are renowned for functioning as water channels. Our team discovered that a subset of plant aquaporins can switch between functioning as water channels and functioning as channels that are permeable to salt ions. We have identified aquaporin post-translational modifications that function like “molecular switches”, regulating the ion and water channel activity of dual ion:water aquaporins. We are working on translating these discoveries into engineering strategies to increase crop tolerance to salinity and drought, and to advance water filtration technology.
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| Project | Status |
|---|---|
| Engineering aquaporins | Current |
| Investigating transcriptional and postranslational regulation of aquaporins | Current |
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Story | Monday 16 September 2019
Dr Caitlin Byrt explores strategies for advancing water filtration.
Caitlin Byrt
Story | Thursday 7 March 2019
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BSB PhD Exit Seminar: Characterising the regulatory effects of splice variants of transporters
Event | Thu 27 April 2023
Membrane transport proteins, also known as transporters, are crucial for the maintenance of cell physiology by facilitating the movement of ions, nutrients, metabolites, and waste across cell membranes.
PS Seminar Series- JOINT SEMINAR - Exploring a new pathway for crown root development
Event | Fri 29 April 2022
Crown roots make up the bulk of the mature root system in grasses and are essential for anchorage and water and nutrient absorption.
PS Seminar Series- JOINT SEMINAR - Moisture-regulated root branching
Event | Fri 29 April 2022
Plants that exhibit moisture-regulated root branching, called hydropatterning, are able to detect spatial differences in water distribution around their root growth zone, which leads to pre-patterning of lateral root primordia towards regions of higher water availability.
