Biological Chemistry

Plant Cell Biochemistry

Introduction

Plant productivity depends on both of the carbon gain through photosynthesis and the nitrogen acquisition from the soil. Plant growth itself, however, is limited by nitrogen availability. Using the major crop rice and the model plant Arabidopsis, we investigate molecular mechanisms of the primary metabolism of plants, focusing on nitrogen assimilation and interaction between carbon and nitrogen metabolisms. Besides such basic research, applied research is also conducted toward improved nitrogen use efficiency and improved crop productivity. Our approach includes molecular biological, biochemical, histochemical, and physiological techniques as well as genetic engineering.

Keywords

Absorption and assimilation of inorganic nitrogen, Nitrogen metabolism, Interaction of nitrogen and carbon metabolisms, Signal transduction, Regulation of gene expression, Rice, Arabidopsis

Staff