Group Leader
Emmanouil Flemetakis
Dr. Emmanouil Flemetakis is an Assistant Professor and a member of the Laboratory of Molecular Biology in the Department of Agricultural Biotechnology in the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA). During and after his PhD thesis, he has worked as a visiting researcher in several research institutes including the Max Plank Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology (Golm, Germany), the John Innes Research Centre, Department of Metabolic Biology (Norwich, UK), the Samuel Noble Foundation, Plant Biology Division (Ardmore, Oklahoma, USA), etc. His research expertises include state of the art gene cloning (genomic and cDNA) applications, transcriptomic and metabolomic methods, protein-protein interaction methods, and plant and microbe genetic transformation technologies. Research infrastructure include PCR and real-time PCR equipment, DNA sequencing apparatus, biolistic particle delivery system, electroporation systems, centrifuges, lyophilizers, tissue-disintegrators, cold room, tissue culture facilities etc. During the past years, the group of Dr. E. Flemetakis has been working in characterization of plant, microbial and microalgae genomes and genes involved in main biochemical and physiological processes. He has also actively participated in more than 12 national and international research projects. Dr. E. Flemetakis has published more than 50 research papers in refereed journals and more than 50 abstracts in national and international conferences. He is a member of the editorial board of the Plant Biology journal, and active reviewer in many high impact scientific journals (Plant Physiology, New Phytologist etc.).
Selected Recent Publications:
· Kalloniati, C., Krompas, P., Karalias, G., Udvardi, M.K., Rennenberg, H., Herschbach, C., Flemetakis, E. (2015). Nitrogen-Fixing Nodules Are an Important Source of Reduced Sulfur, Which Triggers Global Changes in Sulfur Metabolism in Lotus japonicus. Plant Cell. 27(9):2384-400.
· Tsikou, D., Kalloniati, C., Fotelli, M.N., Nikolopoulos, D., Katinakis, P., Udvardi, M.K., Rennenberg, H. and Flemetakis, E. (2013). Cessation of photosynthesis in Lotus japonicus leaves leads to reprogramming of nodule metabolism. Journal of Experimental Botany. 64:1317-1332.
· Kalliampakou, K.I., Kouri, E.D., Boleti, H., Pavli, O., Maurousset, L., Udvardi, M.K., Katinakis, P., Lemoine, R. and Flemetakis, E. (2011). Cloning and functional characterization of LjPLT4, a plasma membrane xylitol H+-symporter from Lotus japonicus. Molecular Membrane Biology. 28:1-13.
· Fotelli, M.N., Tsikou, D., Kolliopoulou, A., Aivalakis, G., Katinakis, P., Udvardi, M.K., Rennenberg, H. and Flemetakis, E. (2011). Nodulation enhances dark CO2 fixation and recycling in the model legume Lotus japonicus. Journal of Experimental Botany 62: 2959–2971.
· Ott, T., Sullivan J., James, E. K., Flemetakis, E., Günther, C., Gibon, Y., Ronson, R. and Udvardi, M. (2009). Absence of symbiotic leghemoglobins alters bacteroid and plant cell differentiation during development of Lotus japonicus root nodules. Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions 22:800-808.
· Kalloniati, C., Tsikou, D., Lampiri, V., Fotelli, M. N., Rennenberg, H., Chatzipavlidis, I., Fasseas, C., Katinakis, P. and Flemetakis, E. (2009). Characterization of a Mesorhizobium loti α-type carbonic anhydrase and its role in symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Journal of Bacteriology 191:2593-600
· Kouri, E.D., Labrou, N.E., Garbis, S.D., Kalliampakou, K.I., Stedel, C., Dimou, M., Udvardi, M.K., Katinakis, P. and Flemetakis E. (2009). Molecular and Biochemical characterization of the Parvulin-type PPIases in Lotus japonicus. Plant Physiology 150:1160-1173.
CV Link: www.publicationslist.org/E.Flemetakis
Group Members
Katerina Kalliampakou
Dr. Kalliampakou was born in Athens in 1972. She studied Mathematics (1990-1994) and Biology (1994-1998) at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. During her studies she was awarded twice with a scholarship from the Greek Establishment of State Scholarships for her educational performance. She carried out a PhD (1998-2005) at the Lab of Molecular Virology in the Hellenic Pasteur institute, studying the role of the 5’ untranslated region (5’UTR) of the RNA of HCV on translation and reproduction of the viral genome. She worked as a post-doctoral researcher (2005-2007) at the Lab of Molecular Biology in the Agricultural University of Athens, studying the Rhizobium-Legume symbiotic relationship. She then worked as a post-doctoral researcher (2007-2010) at the Lab of Molecular Virology in the Hellenic Pasteur institute, studying the interactions between the HCV and the host cell (hepatocyte). She worked as a post-doctoral researcher (2010-2012) at the SustainableAgriculture Dep in the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania. Her research was focused on the viruses of the family of Closteroviridae. Since August 2012 Dr Kalliampakou works as a post-doctoral researcher at the lab of Molecular Biology in the Agricultural University of Athens. Her main scientific target are a) the study of the hypoxia-related regulation and the biochemical role of genes involved in symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legume root nodules, and b) the elucidation of the physiological role of members of the Nucleobase-Ascorbate Transporters family of the rhizobium Sinorhizobium meliloti.
Giorgos Karalias
G. Karalias graduated from the department of Agricultural Biotechnology of the Agricultural University of Athens, where he also completed his post-graduate studies to earn his M. Sc. He is a PhD student at the Biotechnology department of the Agricultural University of Athens, with the symbiotic relationship of legumes with rhizobia bacteria being his main area of studies.
Fotios Komaitis
F. Komaitis is an agronomist, graduated from the Department of Crop Science in Plant Breeding of the Agricultural University of Athens. He has completed his master's degree in the same department. He has a scholarship from the Onassis Foundation, as a candidate PhD in the Department of Biotechnology of the Agricultural University of Athens. His main scientific interest is the biochemical and the molecular characterization of carbon in the nodules of legumes.
Dimitrios Skliros
D. Skliros is a PhD student. He holds a Bachelor and a Master degree from Biotechnology faculty of Food, biotechnology & development school. His bachelor thesis was focused on Medicago truncatula mutants of sugar transporter STP 13.1, while his MsC was also focused on legumes and most specific in lentil (Lens culinaris), where he applied metabolomics (GC/MS) under salinity stress. His PhD thesis is on comparative genomics of marine bacteriophages.
