InPPO Conference

May 15 - 18, 2025

The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel | Banff, Alberta, Canada

“Cultivating innovation through the integration of plant science and proteomics”

Overview

Join us at the upcoming InPPO Conference, held at the Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada. The 6th International Plant Proteomics Organization Conference aims to bring together a diverse array of topics and participants from across the globe to cultivate innovation through the integration of plant science and proteomics. Be sure to visit our table #4, where you can engage with our team of experts and discuss the latest advancements in plant proteomics research. We will be hosting an informative poster session and a lunchtime seminar, where we will delve deeper into these groundbreaking developments and their potential impact on the field. Seats are limited, so be sure to register today to secure your spot. Boxed lunches will be provided while supplies last.

Lunchtime seminar

Friday, May 16, 2025 | 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. MDT | The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel - Alberta Room

Shining light into the daily growing cycles of Arabidopsis with proteomics

To date, our understanding of diel plant chronobiology has been driven by a combination of genetic and transcriptomic technologies, which have together powered a revolution in our understanding of plant and crop systems. However, this view has overlooked more complex protein-level events that directly impact plant physiology and agronomic traits of interest (e.g. climate resiliency). Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) represents the most widely used model plant system to study the molecular responses governed by diel changes (day / night changes) in sunlight and temperature. In this work we show protein and phosphorylation changes across the Arabidopsis day/night cycle by quantifying changes in the proteome and phosphoproteome every 2 hours, providing the most in-depth diel proteome dataset available to date.

Speaker: Dr. Glen Uhrig, PhD., Associate Professor, University of Alberta

Dr. Glen Uhrig, PhD.

Associate Professor, University of Alberta

Dr. R. Glen Uhrig is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Alberta. Dr. Uhrig’s group is focused on the development of novel quantitative proteomic workflows for plants and the application of mass spectrometry-based proteomics to understand diel plant biology under multiple stress conditions. Dr. Uhrig is also an Alberta Science and Technology award winner (2022) for his groups Application of Technology in Agri-food Production. Dr. Uhrig is a board member of the Canadian National Proteomics Network, and the lead of the Plant Cell Atlas Proteomics Committee focused on developing single cell and cell-type applications in plants.

 

Register now to secure your seat. Boxed lunch will be provided while supplies last.

Sponsored presentation

Temporal wheat proteome remodeling by deoxynivalenol reveals novel detoxification signatures and strategies across cultivars

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a devastating fungal disease impacting grain yield and quality due to mycotoxin contamination. This poses significant risks to human and animal health, defining the One Health problem of threatened food safety. This study investigates the wheat proteome's response to the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) in FHB-susceptible (Norwell) and -resistant (Sumai#3) cultivars. We analyze responses at 24 and 120 hours post inoculation, and at DON levels of 0.1 mg/mL and 1.0 mg/mL. Key findings include common (reduced photosynthesis) and unique (glycosyltransferase) protein changes. An in vitro DON tolerance system showed ubiquinol oxidase offers superior protection for yeast growth. This suggests potential biomarkers for breeding wheat varieties with enhanced DON tolerance, improving global food safety.

Speaker: Dr. Jennifer Geddes-McAlister, PhD., Associate Professor at University of Guelph

Dr. Jennifer Geddes-McAlister, Ph.D.

Associate Professor at University of Guelph

Dr. Jennifer Geddes-McAlister is the Canada Research Chair in the Proteomics of Fungal Disease in One Health, an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Director of the Bioinformatics Graduate Programs at the University of Guelph (Canada). Her research program applies mass spectrometry-based proteomics to investigate host-pathogen interactions with a focus on One Health (i.e., intersection of animal, human, and environmental health) approaches to overcoming fungal diseases. Her lab is making seminal contributions to understanding how fungal pathogens infect a host and how the host defends itself from infection, along with identifying novel protein-level drivers of antifungal resistance. Since beginning her lab in 2018, she has won six early career researcher awards in recognition of her scientific contributions, as well as an alumni achievement award from the University of Lethbridge (alma mater). Dr. Geddes-McAlister is President of the Canadian National Proteomics Network, co-founder of the Canadian Artificial Intelligence and Mass Spectrometry for Systems Biology (CAN-AIMS) Consortium, and founder of ‘Moms in Proteomics’ an international initiative dedicated to recognizing and supporting mothers in STEM.

Poster presentation

Optimizing plant phosphoproteomic data independent acquisition: micro-pillar array columns and traditional packed bed technology

Plant research has become crucial as we strive to balance crop output, environmental impacts, and land resources with economic considerations. Arabidopsis thaliana, a model plant system, offers ideal characteristics for plant proteomics studies: a short lifecycle, known genome, ease of cultivation, and established genetic modification methods. Plants, like mammals, undergo natural life cycles influenced by factors such as seasonal changes, day-night photoperiods, and variations in temperature or growth media. Many of these changes are mediated by phosphorylation, which is challenging to study due to low phosphoprotein levels. However, phosphopeptide enrichment coupled with data-independent acquisition using advanced chromatography systems like micro-Pillar Array Columns can enhance detection.

Speaker: Craig P. Dufresne, Ph.D., Staff Scientist, Field Applications, Thermo Fisher Scientific

Craig P. Dufresne, Ph.D.

Staff Scientist, Field Applications, Thermo Fisher Scientific

Featured products

Orbitrap Astral Mass Spectrometer
The Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Astral Mass Spectrometer combines three mass analyzers: a quadrupole mass analyzer for high selectivity and high ion transmission, an Orbitrap mass analyzer for high dynamic range and high-resolution measurements, and the novel Astral analyzer for fast and sensitive measurements. By combining these three mass analyzers and orchestrating the coordination of 5 separate ion packets within the instrument in parallel a new standard for mass spectrometry performance is achieved to unlock new insights into biology and disease mechanisms.

Stellar Mass Spectrometer
 The Thermo Scientific Stellar Mass Spectrometer introduces groundbreaking technology that merges robust quantitation with the precision of rapid full scan MSn acquisition, significantly enhancing laboratory productivity. This mass spectrometer sets a new standard for targeted quantitation, allowing for more efficient, confident, and cost-effective progression of biomarker candidates from discovery to validation. It features advancements in scalability, throughput, sensitivity, specificity, and overall productivity.

AccelerOme automated sample preparation platform
 The Thermo Scientific AccelerOme automated sample preparation platform, with factory-supplied reagents and kits, intuitive software and a unique experimental design experience transforms proteomics sample preparation.

Vanquish Neo UHLPC System
Designed for researchers pursuing their next scientific breakthrough, the Vanquish Neo UHPLC system is ideal for LC-MS applications in proteomics, precision medicine, translational research, and more. Combine with Thermo Scientific PepMap Neo nano-flow LC columns for unmatched efficiency and robust performance for shallow gradients, high-throughput applications, and everything in between.