Plant Biology and Bioenergy
In addition to being the primary food source for all animals and humans, plants are emerging as important sources of biofuels. The Plant Biology and Bioenergy group conducts cutting-edge research on plant growth and development, as well as bioenergy conversion, using a wide variety of molecular, genetic, cellular, and imaging techniques. Our basic research efforts contribute to understanding the mechanisms of macromolecular and organellar intracellular dynamics, control of cell cycle as it affects plant architecture and biomass, cell wall biosynthesis, and energy utilization and production. Our laboratories additionally translate basic research findings into applications for biofuel production and improved genetic transformation techniques to produce plants with improved agronomic, nutritional, and energy conversion characteristics. The organisms we use range from numerous bacterial species (Agrobacterium and various cyanobacterial species) to model plant species (Arabidopsis and tobacco) to agronomically important species (corn and rice).
Laboratories of the Plant Biology and Bioenergy group are highly collaborative, with numerous opportunities for researchers to work between several groups. Researchers in this group routinely collaborate with plant biology laboratories in the College of Agriculture. Emphasis is placed on genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic approaches to conducting research. These approaches are facilitated by state-of-the-art equipment in the Purdue Genomics Center and the Bindley Biosciences Center. Plant Biology and Bioenergy group laboratories are well-funded, including a major multi-laboratory Department of Energy grant to improve biofuel production. Collaborative work is facilitated by cross-campus research group meetings, and by participation of group members in the interdisciplinary PULSe graduate training program.
Csonka, Laszlo (member of Molecular Biosciences Cluster)
(Microbiology) Mechanisms of the responses of bacteria to osmotic stress; genetic engineering of plant cells with increased tolerance of salinity stress.
Gelvin, Stanton
Our research investigates how a soil bacterium, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, genetically engineers plants. Agrobacterium transfers a piece of bacterial DNA, the T-(transferred) DNA, to wounded plant cells where it makes its way through the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Once in the nucleus, T-DNA integrates into the host genome and expresses genes. Under normal circumstances, these genes cause the tumorous disease Crown Gall on plants. However, scientists have learned to manipulate T-DNA, replacing disease genes with genes of benefit to the plant. Many genetically engineered crop plants with desirable traits (disease resistance, herbicide tolerance, and enhanced nutritional value) were generated using Agrobacterium. Our laboratory investigates the role of plant genes and proteins in this natural genetic engineering process. We have identified plant genes involved in bacterial attachment to plant cells, T-DNA and Virulence protein transfer to and cytoplasmic trafficking within plants, T-DNA nuclear targeting, and T-DNA integration. Recently, we have been able to manipulate some of these plant genes to improve Agrobacterium transformation efficiency. We are currently working with agricultural biotechnology companies to improve the genetic engineering of crops.
McCaan, Maureen (member of Molecular Biosciences Cluster)
(Plant cell and molecular biology; genomics) Plant extracellular matrix and cell differentiation
Mizukami, Yukiko
Plant Biomass Control for Bioethanol Production
Plant cells are surrounding by cell walls consisting mainly of polysaccharides that can be a source of bioethanol, a form of renewable energy. Ideally, plants for bioethanol production would have a large number of cells, thus maximizing the amount of cell walls per plant. Our laboratory studies developmental and cell cycle regulators that determine cell size and organs size in plants. By modifying the function of these regulators, we have been investigating how the alteration of developmental competence of the cell or cell cycle patterns in growing plants can increase cell numbers, and thereby cell wall biomass.
Sherman, Louis (member of Molecular Biosciences Cluster)
Louis Sherman is a Professor of Biological Sciences at Purdue University. His research interests center on cyanobacteria and he has studied the processes of photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation and gene regulation. He has been particularly interested in the impact of environmental changes on gene transcription and the corresponding impact on cyanobacterial physiology.
Cyanobacteria have become wonderful and versatile model organisms for the study of photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation and responses to environmental stresses. Current research can help answer questions involved with environmental concerns, alternative energy uses (i.e., solar energy), and health concerns such as microbial toxins and the design of new drugs. The genomic sequence of the model organism Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 was completed a decade ago and the genomic sequences of 6 Cyanothece strains have now been completed. The lab has constructed microarrays for all of these strains and has been involved with high throughput experiments in proteomics and metabolomics. The unicellular Cyanothece strains show robust metabolic and circadian rhythms and performs photosynthesis and N2-fixation at different times of the day and night. This organism is key to a large project aimed at understanding the regulation of such processes and the assembly of membrane complexes. Strains in this genus have been shown to produce copious quantities of H2, organic acids, fatty acids, exopolysaccharides and polyhydroxyalkanoates and are now being analyzed in much greater detail. This analysis will help us determine how best to use specific strains for large-scale production of alternative energy compounds, such as H2, butanol or fatty acids.
Staiger, CJ
Higher plants and the cells that construct them are sessile, lacking the obvious motility events and cell migration that are required for mammalian development and that underpin several human diseases. Nevertheless, plant cells exhibit some of the fastest biological movements on the planet, including dramatic cytoplasmic streaming, organelle movements and responses to fungal and bacterial pathogens. All of these movements and cellular dynamics are powered by a network of filamentous structures called the cytoskeleton. The Staiger lab is interested in how the actin cytoskeleton participates in fundamental cellular responses and transduces signals into changes in cellular architecture. We use state-of-the-art biophysical approaches, advanced imaging modalities, reconstituted biomimetic systems and reverse-genetics to dissect actin dynamics and the function of actin-binding proteins. Presently, we are testing a model for actin turnover that involves a process of “stochastic dynamics” and that differs significantly from current textbook models. We are also examining the crosstalk between the actin cytoskeleton and a bacterial phytopathogen, Pseudomonas syringae, as well as the role of the cortical cytoskeleton in cell wall deposition.