A systems biology approach to for modelling of plant signalling and host defence.

The whole-systems approches have created new opportunities for studying and modelling how cellular processes are regulated/coordinated to meet the organism/cell demands. We propose to use a whole-system approach to develop methods for modelling of plant c ellular processes. In addition to generating and using new data, we will take advantage of existing data and data generated from previously granted/linked genomics projects to make proof-of-concept examples. Integration of data from multiple types of glob al to local assays is essential to understanding dynamic processes and interactions in plant cells. Over the the last 5 years, we have been active in the fields of metabolite profiling, molecular imaging, biochemical/ protein analysis, yeast-two-hybrid an alysis, transcriptional profiling and bioinformatics. We have hosted the Norwegian Arabidopsis Research Centre (NARC), which is one the national technology platforms organized by the functional genomics (FUGE) initiative of the Norwegian Research Council. Much effort has been put into establishing the methods and developing an organization needed for an integrated analysis using data from different platforms. The applicant and collaboration groups have complementary expertise which makes it possible to enter a more holistic study of the cellular processes under investigation. We think this is of national strategic importance as the systems/methods developed also will be important in upcoming studies of complex biological processes, like effects of mult iple stresses, pollution and climate changes. The project will therefore have strategic value as a coordination hub in the Norwegian national plant community and will foster national and international collaboration.