Area(s) of Specialization:
- Plant Molecular Biology, Developmental Biology, Plant Evolution, START Domains, Plant Sterols.
Research interests:
- Protein-Metabolite Interactions - START Domains
- Land Plant Evolution
- Plant Sterols
- The role of sterols in plant development
- Sterol biosynthesis mutants with patterning defects
- Cellulose and Sterols - What’s the connection?
Reserch:
- Integrating growth and signaling networks in development
Research Focus:
- START domains in plants
- Sterols in development and in cell wall biogenesis
Our team studies the role of sterols (and other lipids) in embryonic development using the flowering plant Arabidopsis as a model system. Many studies in this plant have generated information important to understanding human health. A current focus is on the interactions of these molecules with some homeodomain proteins, which are known to play important roles in regulating the activity of many other genes.
Research:
- Biology – Studies interactions of lipids/sterols and regulatory proteins that are key to cell division and development
Subject areas:
- Genetics, Developmental and Cell Biology
Research Specialty:
- Plant Molecular Mechanisms
Expertise: Studies growth and development in plants focusing on lipid metabolites as membrane components and as signaling molecules
