SELENOPROTEIN

(Master thesis project available)

Various abiotic stresses, such as flooding, prolonged droughts, and heat waves, along with biotic stresses like bacterial, fungal, and insect infections, pose serious challenges to agricultural production and threaten global food security. To maintain and enhance crop productivity amid changing climatic conditions, it is crucial to explore new strategies. The Van Breusegem lab is investigating a novel approach involving the use of selenoproteins in higher plants to boost redox potential and antioxidant activity. While selenoproteins are recognized for their antioxidant properties in humans, their presence and function in plants remain unreported and still a mystery. The lab's cutting-edge research is uncovering the role of selenoproteins in green algae and investigating their antioxidant potential in Arabidopsis thaliana. This pioneering research could lead to the development of climate-resilient and stress-tolerant plant systems.

Contact information:
Sandip Ghuge
Frank Van Breusegem