Ulrike Mathesius received her Dipl. Biol. (BSc Hons) at the Technical University of Darmstadt in Germany in 1995. After a year of research at the Research School of Biological Sciences at the ANU during her undergraduate degree, she returned to RSBS for her PhD in 1996, which focused on the symbiosis between rhizobia and legumes. This was followed by post doctoral research at RSBS in the area of plant proteomics between 1999 and 2001. In 2002 she moved to the School of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a Post Doctoral Fellowship from the Australian Research Council. Ulrike is currently holding an ARC Research Fellowship to work on the role of flavonoids as developmental regulators in plants.

Contact Details

E: Ulrike.Mathesius@anu.edu.au T: (+61 2) 6125 2840 F: (+61 2) 6125 0313

Main Research interests

Signals that regulate meristem activity in legume plants. Signal transduction between plant roots and soil microbes. Use of proteome analysis as a functional genomics tool to analyse plant responses to microbial signalling molecules.

Teaching Activities

BIOL3177 : Advances in Molecular Plant Science BIOL3161 : Genomics and its Applications BIOL2171 : Biochemistry and Nutrition BIOL2121: Plants: Genes to Environment

Current Research Group

Dr Jin Jian (Visiting Fellow, Chinese Academy of Science) Anton Wasson (PhD student) Karsten Oelkers (PhD student) Quy Dung (Peter) Dinh (Honours student) Cassandra Harris (Research Assistant)

Research Activities

Plants have been living together with microbes (including bacteria, nematodes and fungi) in the soil for millions of years. Both groups of organisms interact with each other. For example, many microbes feed on dead and live plant matter or plant exudates. Other microbes manage to invade plants and feed on their resources. Still others provide nutrients for plants that the plant could not otherwise access. Examples of these symbionts are symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria that form nodules on the roots of legume plants, and mycorrhizal fungi that can mine phosphorus for plants. These plant-microbe interactions have important impacts on agriculture and forestry. Just as the human immune system protects us from infections by bacteria, plants would be taken over by bacteria if they didn't have systems to keep microbes at bay. During evolution, microbes and plants have developed chemical communication systems that signal each other who is there, what they want and the response of the partner. Often, the outcome of signal interaction is the development of new root structures harboring symbiotic or pathogenic microbes. Examples of these are: root nodules inhabited by nitrogen-fixing bacteria; nematode-induced root galls; tumours formed by Agrobacterium or arbuscular structures formed by mycorrhizal fungi. A central question in our research is how microbial signals orchestrate plant responses to form a new root structure. Have microbes "hijacked" or learned to mimic plant signals to manipulate root development? Our recent work includes studies on the molecular mechanism of root nodule development and focuses on the role of plant hormones and flavonoids in regulating nodule development. Further research shows that nodule formation overlaps in its development and possible regulation with lateral root development and root gall development induced by parasitic nematodes. This has led to the hypothesis that microbes might hijack developmental signals used by plants to regulate their own development. Techniques used to study the responses in plants to divert signals from microbes include in situ hybridisation; light, fluorescence and confocal microscopy; microspectrofluorometry and high pressure liquid chromatography. More recently, Proteome Analysis has been used to compare the simultaneous accumulation of hundreds of plant proteins in response to a variety of bacterial signalling molecules. This technique makes use of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry to display and identify large numbers of proteins at a time. Proteome Analysis has given new insights into the defence systems and developmental responses of plants to microbes. This work is part of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Legume Research.

Publications

2008 Oelkers K, Goffard N, Weiller FG, Gresshoff PM, Mathesius U, Frickey T (2008) Bioinformatic analysis of the CLE signaling peptide family. BMC Plant Biology, 8:1. 2007 van Noorden GE, Kerim T, Goffard N, Wiblin R, Pellerone FI, Rolfe BG, Mathesius U (2007) Overlap of proteome changes in Medicago truncatula in response to auxin and Sinorhizobium meliloti. Plant Physiology, 114: 1115-1131 de Jong F, Mathesius U, Imin N, Rolfe BG. A proteome study of the proliferation of cultured Medicago truncatula protoplasts. Proteomics, 7 (5): 722-736 Beveridge C, Mathesius U, Rose RJ, Gresshoff PM (2007) Common regulatory themes in meristem development and whole plant homeostasis. Current Opinion in Plant Biology, 10 (1): 44-51. 2006 Prayitno J, Imin N., Rolfe B.G., Mathesius U. (2006) Identification of ethylene-mediated protein changes during nodulation in Medicago truncatula using proteome analysis. Journal of Proteome Research , 5: 3084-3095. Prayitno J, Rolfe B.G., Mathesius U. (2006) The ethylene insensitive sickle mutant of Medicago truncatula shows altered auxin transport regulation during nodulation. Plant Physiology, 142: 168-180. Förster, B., Mathesius U. and Pogson B.P. (2006) Comparative proteomics of high light stress in the model alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Proteomics, 6: 4309-4320. Wasson, A.P., Pellerone, F.I. and Mathesius U. (2006) Silencing the flavonoid pathway in Medicago truncatula inhibits root nodule formation and prevents auxin transport regulation by rhizobia . Plant Cell 18, 1617-1629 Van Noorden, G.E., Ross, J.J, Reid, J.B., Rolfe, B.G. and U. Mathesius (2006) Defective long distance auxin transport regulation in the Medicago truncatula super numeric nodulation mutant. Plant Physiology 140: 1494-1506 . 2005 Bauer W.D., Teplitski, M., Mathesius, U. (2005) Plants deal with bacterial quorum sensing. American Society for Microbiology News, 71: 129-135. 2004 Mathesius, U., Mulders, S., de Jong, F., Keijzers, G., Bauer, W.D. and Rolfe, B.G. (2004) Proteome analysis of root responses to rhizobia signalling molecules. In: Biology of Plant-Microbe Interactions Volume 4 Molecular Plant –Microbe Interactions: New Bridges Between Past and future. Tikhonovich I, Lugtenberg B and Provorov N, (Eds.), Published by the International Society for Molecular Plant–Microbe Interactions, St Paul, Minnesota, USA, 2004, pp 47-50. Rolfe, B.G. Djordjevic, M.A., Chen H., Hocart, C., Weiller, G. and Mathesius, U. (2004) Proteomic Analysis of bacterial systems. Molecular Microbial Ecology Manual, 2nd Edition. Kowalchuk, G.A.; Bruijn, F.J.d.; Head, I.M.; Akkermans, A.D.; Elsas, J.D.v. (Eds.). 8.12:1-12. Kluwer Academic Publishers. Bauer, W. D. and Mathesius, U.(2004) Plant responses to bacterial quorum sensing signals. Curr. Opin. Plant Biol. 7: 429-433. Imin, N., de Jong, F., Mathesius, U., van Noorden, G., Saeed, N., Wang, X-D., Rose, R.J., and Rolfe, B.G. (2004) Proteome reference maps of Medicago truncatula embryogenic cell cultures generated from single protoplasts. Proteomics 4: 1883-1896. 2003 Rolfe, B.G., Mathesius, U., Djordjevic, M., Weinman, .J, Hocart, C., Weiller G., and Bauer, W.D. (2003) Proteomic analysis of legume-microbe interactions. Comparative and Functional Genomics, 4: 225-228. Mathesius U., Imin, N., Natera, S. H. A. and Rolfe, B. G. (2003) Proteomics as a functional genomics tool. In: Plant Functional Genomics: Methods and Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology Series. Vol. 236. Ed. E. Grotewold. Humana Press, New Jersey, 395-413. Ferguson, B.F. and Mathesius U. (2003) Signaling interactions during nodule development. J. Plant Growth Regul., 22: 47-72. Mathesius, U. (2003) Signalling pathways between roots and soil microbes – a comparison of the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis with plant-arbuscular mycorrhizal and plant nematode interactions. Plant and Soil, 255 (1): 105-119. Mathesius U., Mulders, S., Gao, M., Teplitski, M., Caetano-Anolles, G., Rolfe, B. G. and Bauer, W. D. (2003) Extensive and specific responses of a eukaryote to bacterial quorum sensing signals. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 100: 1444-1449. 2002 Mathesius, U., Imin, N., Chen, H., Djordjevic, M.A., Weinman, J.J., Natera, S.H.A., Morris, A.C., Kerim, T., Paul, S., Menzel, C., Weiller, G.F., and Rolfe, B.G. (2002) Evaluation of proteome reference maps for cross-species identification of proteins by peptide mass fingerprinting. Proteomics 2 (9), 1288-1303. 2001 Mathesius, U. (2001). Flavonoids induced in cells undergoing nodule organogenesis in white clover are regulators of auxin breakdown by peroxidase. Journal of Experimental Botany. 52: 419-426. Mathesius, U., Keijzers, G., Natera, S.H.A., Weinman, J. J., Djordjevic, M.A. and Rolfe, B.G. (2001) Establishment of a root proteome reference map for the model legume Medicago truncatula using the expressed sequence tag database for peptide mass fingerprinting. Proteomics 1: 1424-1440. 2000 Mistrik, I., Pavlovkin, J., Wächter, R., Pradel, K. S., Schwalm, K., Hartung, W., Mathesius, U., Stöhr, C., and Ullrich, C. I. (2000). Impact of Agrobacterium tumefaciens-induced stem tumors on NO3- uptake in Ricinus communis. Plant and Soil, 226: 87-98. Rolfe, B. G., Mathesius, U., Djordjevic, M. A., Weinman, J. J., Guerreiro, N., Natera, S., Morris, A. (2000). The use of the genus Trifolium for the study of plant-microbe interactions, root development and plant defence responses. In: Procaryotic Nitrogen Fixation: A Model System for Analysis of a Biological Process. Horizon Scientific Press, Wymondham, UK. pp 643-656. Mathesius, U., Charon, C., Rolfe, B.G., Kondorosi, A. and Crespi, M. (2000) Temporal and Spatial Order of Events during the Induction of Cortical Cell Divisions in White Clover by Rhizobium Inoculation or Localised Cytokinin Addition. Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions 13: 617-628. Mathesius, U., Weinman, J.J., Rolfe, B.G. and Djordjevic, M.A. (2000) Rhizobia can induce nodules in white clover by "hijacking" mature cortical cells activated during lateral root development. Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions, 13: 170-182. 1999 Hutangura, P., Mathesius, U., Rolfe, B. G. and Jones, M. E. K. (1999). Auxin induction is a trigger for root gall formation caused by root-knot nematodes in white clover and is associated with the activation of the flavonoid pathway. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology, 26: 221-231. Müller, A. and Mathesius, U. (1999). The paleoenvironments of coastal lagoons in the southern baltic sea I. The application of sedimentay Corg/N ratios as source indicators of organic matter. Paleogeography, Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology, 145: 1-16. Rolfe, B. G., Mathesius, U., Prayitno, J., Perrine, F., Weinman, J. J., Stefaniak, J., Djordjevic, M. A., Guerreiro, N. and Dazzo, F. B. (1999) Rhizobium nodulation and interaction with legumes and non-legumes. In: Reddy, P. M. and Ladha, J. K. eds, Prospects for nodulation and nitrogen fixation in rice. IRRI, Manila, Philippines. 1998 Mathesius, U., Bayliss, C., Weinman, J.J., Schlaman, H.R.M., Spaink, H.P., Rolfe, B. G. and Djordjevic, M.A. (1998) Flavonoids synthesised in cortical cells during nodule initiation are early developmental markers in white clover. Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions, 11: 1223-1232. Mathesius, U., Schlaman, H.R.M., Spaink, H.P., Sautter, C., Rolfe, B.G. and Djordjevic, M.A. (1998) Auxin transport inhibition precedes nodule formation in white clover roots and is regulated by flavonoids and derivatives of chitin oligosaccharides. Plant Journal, 14: 23-34. Mathesius, U., Djordjevic, M. A, Weinman, J. J., Schlaman, H. R. M., Spaink, H. P., McCully, M. E., Rolfe, B. G. (1998). Transient auxin transport inhibition and localised flavonoid induction occurs during the earliest stages of nodulation in white clover. In: Biological Nitrogen Fixation for the 21st century. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands. Pp 311-312. 1997 Rolfe, B. G., Djordjevic, M. A., Weinman, J. J., Mathesius, U., Pittock, C., Gärtner, E., Ride, K. M., Dong, Z., McCully, M. E,. and Mc Iver, J. (1997). Root morphogenesis in legumes and cereals and the effect of bacterial inoculation on root development. Plant Soil, 194: 131-144. Djordjevic, M. A., Mathesius, U., Arioli, T., Weinman, J. J., and Gärtner, E. (1997). Chalcone synthase gene expression in transgenic subterranean clover correlates with localised accumulation of flavonoids. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology, 24: 119-132. 1996 Larkin, P. J., Gibson, J. M., Mathesius, U, Weinman, J. J., Gärtner, E., Hall, E., Tanner, G. J., Rolfe, B. G. and Djordjevic, M. A. (1996). Transgenic white clover. Studies with the auxin responsive promoter, GH3, in root gravitropism and lateral root development. Transgenic Research, 5: 325-335. Cleary, A. L. and Mathesius, U. (1996). Rearrangements of F-actin during stomatogenesis visualised by confocal microscopy in fixed and permeabilised Treadescantia leaf epidermis. Botanica Acta, 109: 15-24. Mathesius, U., Schlaman, H. R. M., Meijer, D., Lugtenberg, B.J.J., Spaink, H.P., Weinman, J.J., Roddam, L.F., Sautter, C., Rolfe, B.G., Djordjevic, M.A. (1996). New tools for investigating nodule initiation and ontogeny: Spot inoculation and microtargeting of transgenic white clover roots shows auxin involvement and suggests a role for flavonoids. In: Biology of Plant-Microbe Interactions. Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. Pp 353-358.