Robert B Mellor
Encyclopedia
Robert Brooke Mellor is a British biologist, known for his "unified vacuole theory" which states that in endosymbioses generally, the micro-symbiont and the macro-symbiont share their lytic vacuolar
compartments. This stems from his earlier symbiosome (or "lysosome theory") which states that the organelle that microsymbionts inhabit partially takes over the lysosomal functions in these cells, analogous to the role of protein bodies in seeds.
In other works Mellor has claimed that in legumes the root nodule
cytoplasm may be under water stress and the plant may combat this by producing trehalose
. Indeed this may explain why nodulated plants have a higher drought-tolerance than non-nodulated plants.
Mellor was also very interested in how plants distinguish between symbiotic and pathogenic infections and in 1984 set about measuring defence responses in nodules infected with different Rhizobia
l mutants and it gradually appeared that in Rhizobia the nod genes are responsible for producing different nod factor
s (lipo-chitin molecules) and that amongst their many effects was that they can provoke plant defence responses, so that it was essential that these genes were switched off (by molecules called "nodoffs") after infection, or that symbiosis could not take place. This convincing model won general acclaim and indeed the paper with David Collinge was later reprinted as that year’s number one most important publication.
However Mellor was also interested in applied science
and invented and a patented system to power immobilized oxido-reductase enzymes and artificial co-factors using electrical power
out of a domestic socket.
the IT University of Copenhagen http://www.itu.dk, after which he became Director of Enterprise at Kingston University http://www.kingston.ac.uk, London, in Computing, Information Systems and Mathematics. Robert Brooke Mellor http://www.mellor.it is author of over 120 scientific publications in reputable journals and ten books, several of which have been translated into other languages. He is an active consultant with over twelve years industrial experience and lectures at postgraduate level on subjects like ‘strategic information systems’, ‘knowledge management’, ‘strategic innovation’ and ‘entrepreneurship’.
Vacuole
A vacuole is a membrane-bound organelle which is present in all plant and fungal cells and some protist, animal and bacterial cells. Vacuoles are essentially enclosed compartments which are filled with water containing inorganic and organic molecules including enzymes in solution, though in certain...
compartments. This stems from his earlier symbiosome (or "lysosome theory") which states that the organelle that microsymbionts inhabit partially takes over the lysosomal functions in these cells, analogous to the role of protein bodies in seeds.
In other works Mellor has claimed that in legumes the root nodule
Root nodule
Root nodules occur on the roots of plants that associate with symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Under nitrogen-limiting conditions, capable plants form a symbiotic relationship with a host-specific strain of bacteria known as rhizobia...
cytoplasm may be under water stress and the plant may combat this by producing trehalose
Trehalose
Trehalose, also known as mycose or tremalose, is a natural alpha-linked disaccharide formed by an α,α-1,1-glucoside bond between two α-glucose units. In 1832, H.A.L. Wiggers discovered trehalose in an ergot of rye, and in 1859 Marcellin Berthelot isolated it from trehala manna, a substance made...
. Indeed this may explain why nodulated plants have a higher drought-tolerance than non-nodulated plants.
Mellor was also very interested in how plants distinguish between symbiotic and pathogenic infections and in 1984 set about measuring defence responses in nodules infected with different Rhizobia
Rhizobia
Rhizobia are soil bacteria that fix nitrogen after becoming established inside root nodules of legumes . Rhizobia require a plant host; they cannot independently fix nitrogen...
l mutants and it gradually appeared that in Rhizobia the nod genes are responsible for producing different nod factor
Nod factor
Nodulation factors are signaling molecules produced by bacteria known as rhizobia during the initiation of nodules on the root of legumes. A symbiosis is formed when legumes take up the bacteria...
s (lipo-chitin molecules) and that amongst their many effects was that they can provoke plant defence responses, so that it was essential that these genes were switched off (by molecules called "nodoffs") after infection, or that symbiosis could not take place. This convincing model won general acclaim and indeed the paper with David Collinge was later reprinted as that year’s number one most important publication.
However Mellor was also interested in applied science
Applied science
Applied science is the application of scientific knowledge transferred into a physical environment. Examples include testing a theoretical model through the use of formal science or solving a practical problem through the use of natural science....
and invented and a patented system to power immobilized oxido-reductase enzymes and artificial co-factors using electrical power
Electric power
Electric power is the rate at which electric energy is transferred by an electric circuit. The SI unit of power is the watt.-Circuits:Electric power, like mechanical power, is represented by the letter P in electrical equations...
out of a domestic socket.
Present Work
In early 2000 he joined and helped start-upStartup company
A startup company or startup is a company with a limited operating history. These companies, generally newly created, are in a phase of development and research for markets...
the IT University of Copenhagen http://www.itu.dk, after which he became Director of Enterprise at Kingston University http://www.kingston.ac.uk, London, in Computing, Information Systems and Mathematics. Robert Brooke Mellor http://www.mellor.it is author of over 120 scientific publications in reputable journals and ten books, several of which have been translated into other languages. He is an active consultant with over twelve years industrial experience and lectures at postgraduate level on subjects like ‘strategic information systems’, ‘knowledge management’, ‘strategic innovation’ and ‘entrepreneurship’.