Jens Tilsner

jt58
Thursday 1 December 2022


Research Centre:



Group Highlights


Our group investigates the structure and function of nano-channels connecting plant cells (plasmodesmata), and how these are hijacked by plant viruses to spread through the host.
We use molecular biology, biochemistry, structural biology, live cell and super-resolution imaging, electron microscopy, reverse and forward genetics, and transient and stable plant transformation to address these questions.



Research


BBSRC Pathfinder Impact Acceleration Account “Pathways on a Particle” (2022-2023), collaboration with Prof Rebecca Goss, School of Chemistry

BBSRC EASTBIO PhD project “Regulation of Plant Cell-to-Cell Communication” (2020-2024), collaboration with Dr Piers Hemsley (University of Dundee) and Dr Alison Roberts (James Hutton Institute)

BBSRC Responsive Mode project “Push on through to the other side – molecular basis of viral cell-to-cell movement in plants” (2015-2019)

Group Members


David Burnett, PhD student/PDRA
Zoe Barr, PhD student

Publications

Chapters

Cell-to-cell connectivity assays for the analysis of cytoskeletal and other regulators of plasmodesmata
Barr, Z. & Tilsner, J., 12 Feb 2023, The plant cytoskeleton: methods and protocols. Hussey, P. J. & Wang, P. (eds.). New York, NY: Humana Press, p. 193-202 10 p. (Methods in molecular biology; vol. 2604).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

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, (Methods in Molecular Biology; vol. 2166).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

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 proceedingChapter

 

Articles

A novel phloem-specific HVA22-like protein facilitates protein movement via plasmodesmata in potato
Lansky, L., Drescher, F., Sugic, K., Diesing, K., Hackel, A., Wahl, V., Tilsner, J. & Kühn, C., Feb 2026, In: Contact. 9, p. 1-23 23 p.
Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Should I stay or should I go – does protein localisation to plasmodesmata depend on targeting signals?
Barr, Z. K. & Tilsner, J., 27 Jan 2026, In: Journal of Experimental Botany. 77, 3, p. 692–696 5 p., eraf278.
Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Live-cell RNA imaging with the inactivated endonuclease Csy4 enables new insights into plant virus transport through plasmodesmata
Burnett, D., Hussein, M., Barr, Z. K., Näther, L. N., Wright, K. M. & Tilsner, J., 9 Apr 2025, In: PLoS Pathogens. 21, 4, p. 1-31 31 p., e1013049.
Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Plasmodesmata act as unconventional membrane contact sites regulating intercellular molecular exchange in plants
Pérez-Sancho, J., Smokvarska, M., Dubois, G., Glavier, M., Sritharan, S., Moraes, T. S., Moreau, H., Dietrich, V., Platre, M. P., Paterlini, A., Li, Z. P., Fouillen, L., Grison, M. S., Cana-Quijada, P., Immel, F., Wattelet, V., Ducros, M., Brocard, L., Chambaud, C. & Luo, Y. & 14 others, Ramakrishna, P., Bayle, V., Lefebvre-Legendre, L., Claverol, S., Zabrady, M., Martin, P. G. P., Busch, W., Barberon, M., Tilsner, J., Helariutta, Y., Russinova, E., Taly, A., Jaillais, Y. & Bayer, E. M., 20 Feb 2025, In: Cell. 188, 4, p. 958-977 20 p.
Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

AtHVA22a, a plant-specific homologue of Reep/DP1/Yop1 family proteins is involved in turnip mosaic virus propagation
Xue, M., Sofer, L., Simon, V., Arvy, N., Diop, M., Lion, R., Beucher, G., Bordat, A., Tilsner, J., Gallois, J.-L. & German-Retana, S., 20 May 2024, In: Molecular Plant Pathology. 25, 5, e13466.
Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Heavy metal-associated isoprenylated plant proteins (HIPPs) at plasmodesmata: exploring the link between localization and function
Barr, Z. K., Werner, T. & Tilsner, J., 21 Aug 2023, In: Plants. 12, 16, 15 p., 3015.
Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Tomato SlGSTU38 interacts with the PepMV coat protein and promotes viral infection
Méndez-López, E., Donaire, L., Gosálvez, B., Díaz-Vivancos, P., Sánchez-Pina, M. A., Tilsner, J. & Aranda, M. A., 1 Apr 2023, In: New Phytologist. 238, 1, p. 332-348 17 p.
Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Reticulons 3 and 6 interact with viral movement proteins
Tilsner, J. & Kriechbaumer, V., 20 Aug 2022, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Molecular Plant Pathology. Early View, 8 p.
Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Subcellular localization and interactions among TGB proteins of cowpea mild mottle virus
Carvalho, S. L., Tilsner, J., Figueira, A. R. & Carvalho, C. M., 1 Dec 2022, In: Archives of Virology. 167, p. 2555-2566 12 p.
Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Creating contacts between replication and movement at plasmodesmata – a role for membrane contact sites in plant virus infections?
Levy, A. & Tilsner, J., 3 Jul 2020, In: Frontiers in Plant Science. 11, 8 p., 862.
Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

 

Other publications

Specialized membrane domains of plasmodesmata, plant intercellular nanopores
Bayer, E. M., Mongrand, S. & Tilsner, J., 30 Sept 2014, In: Frontiers in Plant Science. 5, 3 p., 507.
Research output: Contribution to journalEditorialpeer-review

FIT for Purpose: PNA-Based Probes Enable mRNA Imaging in Living Cells
Tilsner, J. & Flors, C., 2 May 2011, In: ChemBioChem. 12, 7, p. 1007-1009 3 p.
Research output: Contribution to journalEditorialpeer-review

Imaging the early events of TMV infection
Christensen, N., Tilsner, J., Lacomme, C. & Oparka, K., Jul 2008, In: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology. 150, 3, p. S193-S193 1 p.
Research output: Contribution to journalAbstractpeer-review

Molecular characterisation of dormancy phase transition in raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) buds
Mazzitelli, L., Pont, S. D. A., Walker, P. G., Haupt, S., Tilsner, J., Taylor, M. A., Hedley, P., McNicol, J. W., Hancock, R. D. & Viola, R., Jul 2005, In: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology. 141, 3, p. S291-S291 1 p.
Research output: Contribution to journalAbstractpeer-review

 



Contact

Please contact us if you interested in joining the group!

Dr Jens Tilsner
RM306, BMS Building
North Haugh
St Andrews, KY16 9ST
[email protected]



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