Dr Jens Tilsner

Lecturer

Researcher profile

Phone

+44 (0)1334 464829

Email

jt58@st-andrews.ac.uk

Research areas

My lab investigates the interactions of plant RNA viruses with host cell membranes during replication and cell-to-cell transport.

Plant viruses are a major threat to food security. Unlike viruses infecting animals, they need to cross the barrier of the cell wall during infection. This step constitutes a severe bottleneck in the infection process, and is therefore a promising target for the development of new antiviral crop protection strategies.

RNA viruses assemble replication complexes on membrane surfaces and extensively reorganise membrane composition and shape in the process. Membrane interactions also play a role in plant viruses intercellular transport because this occurs through cell wall-spanning nanopores called plasmodesmata that consist of two concentric membrane tubules. Recently, I discovered that in some plant viruses, the processes of replication and movement are coupled in modified membrane structures at the entrances of the plasmodesmata.

We use a combination of confocal and super-resolution microscopy of RNA and proteins, protein biochemistry, in vitro reconstitution of membrane-bound protein complexes, and lipidomics to understand how plant virus-encoded proteins modify cellular membranes for replication and movement, and how this knowledge can be translated into crop protection strategies and biotechnology applications.

PhD supervision

• David Burnett

Selected publications

• RNA imaging with RNase-inactivated Csy4 in plants and filamentous fungi

  Burnett, D., Lichius, A. & Tilsner, J., 2020, RNA Tagging: Methods and Protocols. Heinlein, M. (ed.). Springer, Vol. 2166. (Methods in Molecular Biology; vol. 2166).

  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding ? Chapter

• Multiple C2 domains and Transmembrane region Proteins (MCTPs) tether membranes at plasmodesmata

  Brault, M. L., Petit, J. D., Immel, F., Nicolas, W. J., Glavier, M., Brocard, L., Gaston, A., Fouché, M., Hawkins, T. J., Crowet, J-M., Grison, M. S., Germain, V., Rocher, M., Kraner, M., Alva, V., Claverol, S., Paterlini, A., Helariutta, Y., Deleu, M., Lins, L., Tilsner, J. & Bayer, E. M., 1 Aug 2019, In : EMBO Reports. 20, 8, 26 p., e47182.

  Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article

• Efficient detection of long dsRNA in vitro and in vivo using the dsRNA binding domain from FHV B2 protein

  Monsion, B., Incarbone, M., Hleibieh, K., Poignavent, V., Ghannam, A., Dunoyer, P., Daeffler, L., Tilsner, J. & Ritzenthaler, C., 1 Feb 2018, In : Frontiers in Plant Science. 9, 16 p., 70.

  Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article

• Hitchhikers, highway tolls and roadworks: the interactions of plant viruses with the phloem

  Folimonova, S. Y. & Tilsner, J., Jun 2018, In : Current Opinion in Plant Biology. 43, p. 82-88 7 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal ? Review article

• Architecture and permeability of post-cytokinesis plasmodesmata lacking cytoplasmic sleeves

  Nicolas, W. J., Grison, M. S., Trépout, S., Gaston, A., Fouché, M., Cordelières, F. P., Oparka, K., Tilsner, J., Brocard, L. & Bayer, E. M., 1 Jul 2017, In : Nature Plants. 3, 7, 17082.

  Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article

• The potential consequences for cell Signaling by a class of NOD-Like Receptor proteins (NLRs) bearing an N-terminal signal sequence

  Ryan, M. D., Roulston, C., de Felipe, P., Odon, V., Tilsner, J. & Luke, G. A., 19 May 2017, In : Journal of Cell Signaling. 2, 2, 3 p., 148.

  Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article

• "2A-like" signal sequences mediating translational recoding: a novel form of dual protein targeting

  Roulston, C., Luke, G. A., de Felipe, P., Ruan, L., Cope, J., Nicholson, J., Sukhodub, A., Tilsner, J. & Ryan, M. D., 13 Jul 2016, In : Traffic. 17, 8, p. 923-939 17 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article

• Staying tight: plasmodesmal membrane contact sites and the control of cell-to-cell connectivity in plants

  Tilsner, J., Nicolas, W., Rosado, A. & Bayer, E. M., Apr 2016, In : Annual Review of Plant Biology. 67, p. 337-364

  Research output: Contribution to journal ? Review article

• Stitching organelles: organization and function of specialized membrane contact sites in plants

  Pérez-Sancho, J., Tilsner, J., Samuels, A. L., Botella, M. A., Bayer, E. M. & Rosado, A., Sep 2016, In : Trends in Cell Biology. 26, 9, p. 705-717

  Research output: Contribution to journal ? Review article

• Growing uses of 2A in Plant Biotechnology

  Luke, G. A., Roulston, C., Tilsner, J. & Ryan, M. D., 2015, Biotechnology. Ekinci, D. (ed.). Croatia: InTech, p. 165-193 28 p.

  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding ? Chapter

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