Staff profile

Plant Calcium Signalling

We are investigating the role of calcium as a second messenger in stress signalling. We are interested in how stress information is encoded in calcium responses and how these are decoded by plants to produce the appropriate survival response.

Journal Article

• Integration of multi-omics data and deep phenotyping provides insights into responses to single and combined abiotic stress in potato
  
  Zagorščak, M., Abdelhakim, L., Rodriguez-Granados, N. Y., Široká, J., Ghatak, A., Bleker, C., Blejec, A., Zrimec, J., Novák, O., Pěnčík, A., Baebler, Špela, Borroto, L. P., Schuy, C., Županič, A., Afjehi-Sadat, L., Wurzinger, B., Weckwerth, W., Novak, M. P., Knight, M. R., … Teige, M. (2025). Integration of multi-omics data and deep phenotyping provides insights into responses to single and combined abiotic stress in potato. Plant Physiology, 197(4), Article kiaf126. https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiaf126
• Plant growth promotion by the interaction of a novel synthetic small molecule with GA‐DELLA function
  
  Sukiran, N. A., Pollastri, S., Steel, P. G., & Knight, M. R. (2022). Plant growth promotion by the interaction of a novel synthetic small molecule with GA‐DELLA function. Plant Direct, 6(4), Article e398. https://doi.org/10.1002/pld3.398
• Basal stomatal aperture is regulated by GA-DELLAs in Arabidopsis
  
  Sukiran, N. A., Steel, P. G., & Knight, M. R. (2020). Basal stomatal aperture is regulated by GA-DELLAs in Arabidopsis. Journal of Plant Physiology, 250, Article 153182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jplph.2020.153182
• Design principles for decoding calcium signals to generate specific gene expression via transcription
  
  Liu, J., Lenzoni, G., & Knight, M. R. (2020). Design principles for decoding calcium signals to generate specific gene expression via transcription. Plant Physiology, 182(4), 1743-1761. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.19.01003
• MUR1-mediated cell-wall fucosylation is required for freezing tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana
  
  Panter, P. E., Kent, O., Dale, M., Smith, S. J., Skipsey, M., Thorlby, G., Cummins, I., Ramsay, N., Begum, R. A., Sanhueza, D., Fry, S. C., Knight, M. R., & Knight, H. (2019). MUR1-mediated cell-wall fucosylation is required for freezing tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. New Phytologist, 224(4), 1518-1531. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16209
• Leaves of isoprene‐emitting tobacco plants maintain PSII stability at high temperatures.
  
  Pollastri, S., Jorba, I., Hawkins, T., Llusia, J., Michelozzi, M., Navajas, D., Penuelas, J., Hussey, P., Knight, M., & Loreto, F. (2019). Leaves of isoprene‐emitting tobacco plants maintain PSII stability at high temperatures. New Phytologist, 223(3), 1307-1318. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.15847
• The identification of small molecule inhibitors of the plant inositol phosphorylceramide synthase which demonstrate herbicidal activity
  
  Pinneh, E., Mina, J., Stark, M., Lindell, S., Luemmen, P., Knight, M., Steel, P., & Denny, P. (2019). The identification of small molecule inhibitors of the plant inositol phosphorylceramide synthase which demonstrate herbicidal activity. Scientific Reports, 9, Article 8083. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-44544-1
• Expression levels of inositol phosphorylceramide synthase modulate plant responses to biotic and abiotic stress in Arabidopsis thaliana
  
  Pinneh, E., Stoppel, R., Knight, H., Knight, M., Steel, P., & Denny, P. (2019). Expression levels of inositol phosphorylceramide synthase modulate plant responses to biotic and abiotic stress in Arabidopsis thaliana. PLoS ONE, 14(5), Article e0217087. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0217087
• Increases in absolute temperature stimulate free calcium concentration elevations in the chloroplast
  
  Lenzoni, G., & Knight, M. (2019). Increases in absolute temperature stimulate free calcium concentration elevations in the chloroplast. Plant and Cell Physiology, 60(3), 538-548. https://doi.org/10.1093/pcp/pcy227
• OXI1 kinase plays a key role in resistance of Arabidopsis towards aphids (Myzus persicae)
  
  Shoala, T., Edwards, M. G., Knight, M. R., & Gatehouse, A. M. (2018). OXI1 kinase plays a key role in resistance of Arabidopsis towards aphids (Myzus persicae). Transgenic Research, 27(4), 355-366. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-018-0078-x
• Predicting plant immunity gene expression by identifying the decoding mechanism of calcium signatures
  
  Lenzoni, G., Liu, J., & Knight, M. (2018). Predicting plant immunity gene expression by identifying the decoding mechanism of calcium signatures. New Phytologist, 217(4), 1598-1609. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.14924
• Transcriptomic analysis comparing stay-green and senescent Sorghum bicolor lines identifies a role for proline biosynthesis in the stay-green trait
  
  Johnson, S. M., Cummins, I., Lim, F. L., Slabas, A. R., & Knight, M. R. (2015). Transcriptomic analysis comparing stay-green and senescent Sorghum bicolor lines identifies a role for proline biosynthesis in the stay-green trait. Journal of Experimental Botany, 66(22), 7061-7073. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erv405
• The Potato Nucleotide-Binding Leucine-Rich Repeat (NLR) Immune Receptor Rx1 is a Pathogen Dependent DNA-Deforming Protein
  
  Fenyk, S., Townsend, P. D., Dixon, C. H., Spies, G. B., de San Eustaquio Campillo, A., Slootweg, E. J., Westerhof, L. B., Gawehns, F. K., Knight, M. R., Sharples, G. J., Goverse, A., Pålsson, L., Takken, F. L., & Cann, M. J. (2015). The Potato Nucleotide-Binding Leucine-Rich Repeat (NLR) Immune Receptor Rx1 is a Pathogen Dependent DNA-Deforming Protein. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 290(41), 24945-24960. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.m115.672121
• Combining modelling and experimental approaches to explain how calcium signatures are decoded by calmodulin-binding transcription activators (CAMTAs) to produce specific gene expression responses
  
  Liu, J., Whalley, H., & Knight, M. (2015). Combining modelling and experimental approaches to explain how calcium signatures are decoded by calmodulin-binding transcription activators (CAMTAs) to produce specific gene expression responses. New Phytologist, 208(1), 174-187. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.13428
• Transcriptomic analysis of Sorghum bicolor responding to combined heat and drought stress
  
  Johnson, S., Lim, F., Finkler, A., Fromm, H., Slabas, A., & Knight, M. (2014). Transcriptomic analysis of Sorghum bicolor responding to combined heat and drought stress. BMC Genomics, 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-15-456
• Calcium signatures are decoded by plants to give specific gene responses
  
  Whalley, H., & Knight, M. (2013). Calcium signatures are decoded by plants to give specific gene responses. New Phytologist, 197(3), 690-693. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.12087
• A C-Repeat Binding Factor Transcriptional Activator (CBF/DREB1) from European Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) Induces Freezing Tolerance When Expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana
  
  Oakenfull, R. J., Baxter, R., & Knight, M. R. (2013). A C-Repeat Binding Factor Transcriptional Activator (CBF/DREB1) from European Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) Induces Freezing Tolerance When Expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana. PLoS ONE, 8(1), Article e54119. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0054119
• Low-temperature perception leading to gene expression and cold tolerance in higher plants
  
  Knight, M. R., & Knight, H. (2012). Low-temperature perception leading to gene expression and cold tolerance in higher plants. New Phytologist, 195(4), 737-751. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04239.x
• Non-invasive monitoring of temperature stress in Arabidopsis thaliana roots, using ion amperometry
  
  Sulaiman, Y., Knight, M., & Kataky, R. (2012). Non-invasive monitoring of temperature stress in Arabidopsis thaliana roots, using ion amperometry. Analytical Methods, 4(6), 1656-1661. https://doi.org/10.1039/c2ay05747f
• ERF5 and ERF6 Play Redundant Roles as Positive Regulators of JA/Et-Mediated Defense against Botrytis cinerea in Arabidopsis
  
  Moffat, C. S., Ingle, R. A., Wathugala, D. L., Saunders, N. J., Knight, H., & Knight, M. R. (2012). ERF5 and ERF6 Play Redundant Roles as Positive Regulators of JA/Et-Mediated Defense against Botrytis cinerea in Arabidopsis. PLoS ONE, 7(4), Article e35995. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0035995
• The Mediator subunit SFR6/MED16 controls defence gene expression mediated by salicylic acid and jasmonate responsive pathways
  
  Wathugala, D., Hemsley, P., Moffat, C., Cremelie, P., Knight, M., & Knight, H. (2012). The Mediator subunit SFR6/MED16 controls defence gene expression mediated by salicylic acid and jasmonate responsive pathways. New Phytologist, 195(1), 217-230. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04138.x
• Modelling and experimental analysis of the role of interacting cytosolic and vacuolar pools in shaping low temperature calcium signatures in plant cells
  
  Liu, J., Knight, H., Hurst, C., & Knight, M. (2012). Modelling and experimental analysis of the role of interacting cytosolic and vacuolar pools in shaping low temperature calcium signatures in plant cells. Molecular BioSystems, 2012(8), 2205-2220. https://doi.org/10.1039/c2mb25072a
• A toolset of aequorin expression vectors for in planta studies of subcellular calcium concentrations in Arabidopsis thaliana.
  
  Mehlmer, N., Parvin, N., Hurst, C., Knight, M., Teige, M., & Vothknecht, U. (2012). A toolset of aequorin expression vectors for in planta studies of subcellular calcium concentrations in Arabidopsis thaliana. Journal of Experimental Botany, 63(4), 1751-1761. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/err406
• OsSFR6 is a functional rice orthologue of SENSITIVE TO FREEZING-6 and can act as a regulator of COR gene expression, osmotic stress and freezing tolerance in Arabidopsis
  
  Wathugala, D., Richards, S., Knight, H., & Knight, M. (2011). OsSFR6 is a functional rice orthologue of SENSITIVE TO FREEZING-6 and can act as a regulator of COR gene expression, osmotic stress and freezing tolerance in Arabidopsis. New Phytologist, 191(4), 984-995. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03759.x
• Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Calcium Regulation of Specific Promoter Motifs in Arabidopsis.
  
  Whalley, H., Sargeant, A., Steele, J., Lacoere, T., Lamb, R., Saunders, N., Knight, H., & Knight, M. (2011). Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Calcium Regulation of Specific Promoter Motifs in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell, 23(11), 4079-4095. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.111.090480
• The phosphoproteome of Arabidopsis plants lacking the oxidative signal-inducible1 (OXI1) protein kinase
  
  Howden, A. J., Salek, M., Miguet, L., Pullen, M., Thomas, B., Knight, M. R., & Sweetlove, L. J. (2011). The phosphoproteome of Arabidopsis plants lacking the oxidative signal-inducible1 (OXI1) protein kinase. New Phytologist, 190(1), 49-56. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2010.03582.x
• Identification of SFR6, a key component in cold acclimation acting post-translationally on CBF function
  
  Knight, H., Mugford Nee Garton, S., Ulker, B., Gao, D., Thorlby, G., & Knight, M. (2009). Identification of SFR6, a key component in cold acclimation acting post-translationally on CBF function. Plant Journal, 58(1), 97-108. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-313x.2008.03763.x
• Getting the most out of publicly available T-DNA insertion lines.
  
  Ulker, B., Peiter, E., Dixon, D., Moffat, C., Capper, R., Bouche, N., Edwards, R., Sanders, D., Knight, H., & Knight, M. (2008). Getting the most out of publicly available T-DNA insertion lines. Plant Journal, 56(4), 665-677. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-313x.2008.03608.x