Luit De Kok

Research interests: During the last decades the research has generally been focused on investigating the physiological processes underlying the mechanism of adaptation of plants to the environment. The significance of membrane lipids and antioxidants (e.g. glutathione) in the adaptation of plants to various stress factors e.g. chilling, frost, salinity and air pollution has been studied in detail. In addition the consequences of global change, in particular the effect of elevated CO₂ levels on plants was investigated. During the last decade the physiological significance of sulfur metabolism in plants has become a major research topic. The molecular/biochemical, physiological and agronomic and environmental aspects of sulfur in plants is investigated in close co-operation with other research groups. The regulatory aspects of the sulfur uptake and assimilation in plants in relation to the metabolic requirement for growth and the signals therein involved are investigated. The relation between expression of the various genes involved in sulfur metabolism, the level of transporters and enzymes involved in sulfur metabolism and the actual fluxes of the sulfur metabolites under various physiological conditions is studied. The modulation of sulfur nutrition by changing the levels of atmospheric and pedospheric sulfur sources, for instance by using ³⁵S-label sulfur compounds and molecular techniques, have shown promise to elucidate the role and significance of changes in the level and expression of sulfate transporter proteins and sulfate reducing enzymes in the regulation of the sulfur metabolism. The possible significance of O-acetylserine in the interaction between sulfur and nitrogen assimilation is evaluated. In addition, the pathway and regulation of the synthesis of secondary sulfur compounds, viz alliins in Allium species are investigated. Further studies will be carried out on assessing the relation between plant sulfur status and its resistance to environmental stress and pests.

 

1. Plants’ Sulfur Metabolism and its Significance in Adaptation to the Environment
2. Curriculum Vitea [PDF]
3. Current Research Projects

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