MOLECULAR TECHNIQUES IN PLANT SCIENCE
June 27 - July 17, 2008
Application Deadline: March 15, 2008

Instructors:
Thomas Brutnell, Boyce Thompson Institute
Elizabeth Toby Kellogg, University of Missouri
Vivian Irish, Yale University
Jennifer Normanly, University of Massachusetts

This course provides an intensive overview of topics in plant physiology, biochemistry and development, focusing on molecular genetic and analytical approaches to understanding plant biology. It emphasizes recent results from Arabidopsis, maize and a variety of other plants and provides an introduction to current methods used in plant molecular biology. It is designed for scientists with some experience in molecular techniques or in plant biology who wish to work with plants using the latest technologies in genetics, molecular biology and biochemistry. The course consists of a vigorous lecture series, a hands-on laboratory, and informal discussions. Discussions of important topics in plant research will be presented by the instructors and by invited speakers. These seminars will include plant morphology and anatomy; plant development (such as development of flowers, leaves, male and female gametophytes, and roots); perception of light and photomorphogenesis; cell wall biosynthesis, function and perception of hormones and application of research results to addressing current agronomic problems. Lectures describing bioinformatics tools available to the plant community, and the resources provided by plant genome projects are also included. Speakers will provide overviews of their fields, followed by in-depth discussions of their own work. The laboratory sessions will provide an introduction to important techniques currently used in plant research. These include studies of plant development, mutant analysis, histochemical staining, transient gene expression, gene silencing, applications of fluorescent protein fusions, protein interaction and detection, proteomics approaches, several different approaches for quantifying metabolites, transient transformation and techniques commonly used in genetic and physical mapping. The course also includes several short workshops on important themes in plant research.

2008 Tentative Schedule & Speakers (subject to change)

Day 1
Introduction to Plant Structure (Ian Sussex, Yale University)
Introduction to Plant Structure (Ian Sussex & Nancy Kerk)
Workshop I: Double Mutants, Genetic Maps (Instructors)

Day 2
Phylogenetics (Elizabeth 'Toby' Kellogg, University of Missouri, St. Louis)
Sequence Analysis and Phylogeny Reconstruction (Toby Kellogg)

Day 3
Root Development (TBA)
Visualizing Plant Gene Expression Lab (Vivian Irish, Yale University)
Microscopy training

Day 4
Shoot Meristem Development (Dave Jackson, CSHL)
Fluorescence, Confocal and Scanning EM Imaging (Dave Jackson)
Gene Expression Lab, part II (Vivian Irish)

Day 5
Reproductive Development (Vivian Irish, Yale University)

Day 6
Quantitative Genetics (Georg Jander, Boyce Thompson Institute)
Quantitative Trait Mapping - using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model system (Georg Jander)

Day 7
Plant Pathogen Interactions (Savithramma Dinesh-Kumar, Yale University)
Plant Pathogen Lab (Savithramma Dinesh-Kumar)
Prep HPLC lab
Sequence Analysis and Phylogeny Reconstruction (Toby Kellogg)

Day 8
Secondary Metabolites: Glucosinolates (John Celenza)
HPLC Analysis of Arabidopsis Mutants with Altered Indole Glucosinolate Profiles (John Celenza)
Social, 4th of July fireworks

Day 10
Plastids (Thomas Brutnell, Boyce Thompson Institute)
In-planta Transient Expression (Tom Brutnell)
Database Searching (TBA)

Day 11
Regulatory Networks (Erich Grotewold, Ohio State University)
ChIP and ChIP-chip Approaches to Establish Plant Regulatory Motifs (Erich Grotewold)
HPLC, continued

Day 12
Light Regulation (Kevin Folta, University of Florida)
ChIP and ChIP-chip Approaches to Establish Plant Regulatory Motifs, part II (Erich Grotewold)
ChIP-chip analysis, part II (Erich Grotewold)

Day 13
Cell Walls (Jocelyn Rose, Cornell University)
Plant Cell Wall Analysis and Precursors for Biofuels (Jocelyn Rose)
Data Biofuels Lab (Jocelyn Rose)

Day 14
Circadian Rhythms (Stacey Harmer, University of California, Davis)
Transient Expression lab, part II (confocal, Western blot)
HPLC data analysis Workshop (John Celenza)

Day 15
Plant Hormones (Eric Schaller, Dartmouth College)
Biochemistry/Protein Purification Lab (Eric Schaller)

Day 16
Plant Hormones (TBA)
Protein Lab, part II (Eric Schaller)

Day 17
Proteomics (Thomas Nuhse, University of Manchester)
Proteomics Lab: 2-D gels/ MALDI MS (Thomas Nuhse)
MicroRNA Regulation (Marja Timmermans, CSHL)

Day 18
Phyllotaxis (Cris Kuhlemeier, University of Bern)
Proteomics Lab: 2-D gels/ MALDI MS, part II (Thomas Nuhse)
Data Analysis (Thomas Nuhse)
Scientific Writing Workshop

Day 19
Metabolomics (Jennifer Normanly, University of Massachusetts)
Quantification of IAA (Jennifer Normanly)
IAA lab (cont) Workshop: wrap-up

Day 20
Plant Biomass and Energy (TBA)
IAA Data Analysis (Jennifer Normanly)
Banquet

This course is supported with funds provided by the National Science Foundation

Cost (including board and lodging): $3,850
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