Title | Funder | Award start | Award end |
---|---|---|---|
Shapeshifting: how is plant ER architecture manipulated by pathogen effectors? - BBSRC standard research grant | BBSRC | 01 Jun 2022 | 31 May 2025 |
Phase separation drives the development of protein storage vacuoles | Leverhulme Trust | 04 Jan 2021 | 30 Nov 2023 |
A broadly accessible facility microscope to probe nanoscale cellular dynamics by combined live cell super-resolution microscopy and photomanipulation (BBSRC ALERT 2021) | BBSRC | 01 Aug 2022 | 31 Jul 2023 |
The cell biology of rubber biosynthesis - the endoplasmic reticulum connection | Leverhulme Trust | 01 Jun 2016 | 31 May 2019 |
13 ERA-CAPS PER ASPERA Frigerio | BBSRC | 01 Jul 2014 | 31 Dec 2017 |
GCRF IAA | BBSRC | 17 Oct 2016 | 31 Mar 2017 |
Studentship for Daniel Brown, funded by TARRC. Project increasing latex yield in the rubber tree Hevea brasilensis by targeted expression of aquaporins. | Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre (TARRC) | 01 Oct 2012 | 30 Sep 2016 |
Tissue specific aquaporin expression for plant water stress resistance | BBSRC | 01 Oct 2012 | 31 May 2016 |
A facility for 3D cellular imaging that bridges light and electron microscopy (BSRC ALERT 14 Equipment grant) | BBSRC | 21 Jan 2015 | 20 Jan 2016 |
Studying the biogenesis of protein storage vacuoles by reprogramming leaf development | Leverhulme Trust | 01 Jan 2012 | 31 Dec 2014 |
Developing interdisciplinary omics tools for organelle and cell type-specific analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana | New Phytologist Trust | 01 Sep 2014 | 30 Sep 2014 |
BSCB Summer Vacation placement - Stephanie Rippon | British Society for Cell Biology | 03 Jul 2013 | 14 Aug 2013 |
How are proteins sorted to storage vacuoles in plant seeds? | Leverhulme Trust | 01 Jul 2007 | 30 Jun 2010 |
The role and impact of endoplasmic reticulum associated degradation in plant cells. | Leverhulme Trust | 01 Mar 2007 | 28 Feb 2010 |
Analysis of Factors Regulating the plant Secretory Pathway | British Council | 01 Jul 2008 | 30 Jun 2009 |
Maximising the yield of plant-made immunoglobulins | Wellcome Trust | 01 Oct 2006 | 30 Sep 2008 |
Plant-derived pharmaceuticals for human health pharmaplant - FP6 (IP) | European Commission | 01 Feb 2004 | 31 Jan 2008 |
Determination of the spatial & temporal parameters governing protein translocation pathways | BBSRC | 01 Jan 2005 | 31 Dec 2007 |
Professor Lorenzo Frigerio

Vice Provost and Chair of the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine
Email: L.Frigerio@warwick.ac.uk
Phone: 024 765 23181
Office: C107
Frigerio webpage
Research clusters
Research Interests
The majority of the plant proteins that humans and animals eat are produced and stored in the secretory pathway, which is a system of organelles found inside each plant cell, starting with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) – a network of membrane tubules that resembles a fishnet – and ending with the vacuole – a large container that can act as both a storage compartment or a dustbin, depending on the cell type.
We study how the endoplasmic reticulum gets its peculiar shape and how this shape relates to its function as a protein assembly factory. When pests or bacterial pathogens attack a plant, the ER changes shape very rapidly. We are trying to work out how this shape change helps the plant protect itself.
We also study how the vacuole changes its function from a site of degradation into a container of protein accumulation during the maturation of plant seeds. Understanding these processes is essential for exploiting the capacity of plants to produce and accumulate large amounts of nutritious, or high-value proteins.
Research: Technical Summary
We use a combination of plant genetics, biochemistry and live imaging to study the biogenesis of secretory pathway organelles in plant cells. In particular, we are interested in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) morphogenic proteins and how they affect ER architecture and function, especially under biotic stress.
We also study the biogenesis of protein storage vacuoles (PSV) in plant seeds. PSV are the main repository of proteins in seeds, therefore essential for human and plant nutrition. We have recently established that PSV arise from pre-existing embryonic lytic vacuoles during seed maturation. We are now elucidating the steps that convert a protease-rich, degradative organelle into a haven for seed storage proteins
PhD Plant Genetics. Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore 1995