# positions[].organizations[].parent[].label
Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES)

# positions[].organizations[].parent[].label
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

# overview
We study the biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying the control of programmed cell death (PCD) in plants and how PCD is manipulated during plant-pathogen interactions. Specifically we study the interaction between tomato and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) the causative agent of bacterial spot disease. Resistance to this disease is conferred by the host Pto serine/threonine protein kinase which recognizes Pst strains expressing the type III effector protein AvrPto.

PCD is induced during both resistant and susceptible plant-pathogen interactions. In the case of a resistant interaction, PCD induced by the plant, known as the hypersensitive response (HR), and acts to limit the spread of the pathogen. In susceptible plant-pathogen interactions plant PCD is induced by the pathogen after infection leading to death of the host. Studies have indicated that the genes controlling host PCD during the HR are the same genes that are manipulated by the pathogen during susceptible interactions. The difference lies in the timing of controlling the activity of these genes; HR PCD occurs within 12 hours of pathogen recognition while pathogen-induced PCD occurs several days after infection.

Many of these genes that control plant PCD are serine/threonine (S/T) protein kinase. We are interested in studying a specific class of S/T protein kinases that control PCD in plants called AGC kinases and how they are regulated in both resistant and susceptible plant-pathogen interactions. Additionally, when plants are not attacked by pathogens, PCD is a process that requires constant control so that cell death does not occur. We are looking at the signaling mechanisms and pathways employed to keep PCD under check in non-pathogen challenged plants.

# keywords[]
National Alliance For Advanced Biofuels And Bioproducts

# keywords[]
Seven In Absentia (sina) Ubiquitin Ligase

# keywords[]
Nac (nam, Ataf1,2, Cuc2) Transcription Factor

# educationAndTraining[].organization.label
University of Kentucky - (Lexington, Kentucky, United States)

# educationAndTraining[].organization.label
Michigan Technological University - (Houghton, Michigan, United States)

# educationAndTraining[].organization.label
Michigan Technological University - (Houghton, Michigan, United States)

# publications[].label
N-terminal sequences affect expression of triterpene biosynthesis enzymes in Chlamydomonas chloroplasts

# publications[].label
In Silico and Cellular Differences Related to the Cell Division Process between the A and B Races of the Colonial Microalga Botryococcus braunii.

# publications[].label
Manipulation of plant programmed cell death pathways during plant-pathogen interactions.

# publications[].label
Perspectives in PDK1 evolution: insights from photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic organisms.

# publications[].label
Reclassification of Botryococcus braunii chemical races into separate species based on a comparative genomics analysis.

# publications[].label
Ubiquitination of the tomato cell death suppressor Adi3 by the RING E3 ubiquitin ligase AdBiL.

# publications[].label
Polysaccharide associated protein (PSAP) from the green microalga Botryococcus braunii is a unique extracellular matrix hydroxyproline- rich glycoprotein

# publications[].label
Effect of selected herbicides on growth and hydrocarbon content of Botryococcus braunii (Race B)

# publications[].label
Direct ubiquitination of pattern recognition receptor FLS2 attenuates plant innate immunity.

# publications[].publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

# publications[].label
Raman spectra and DFT calculations for tetraterpene hydrocarbons from the L race of the green microalga Botryococcus braunii

# publications[].label
Molecular characterization of tobacco squalene synthase and regulation in response to fungal elicitor.

# publications[].label
A high-throughput microfluidic light controlling platform for biofuel producing photosynthetic microalgae analysis

# publications[].label
Tetraterpene Synthase Substrate and Product Specificity in the Green Microalga Botryococcus braunii Race L.

# publications[].tags
12 Responsible Consumption and Production

# publications[].label
A squalene synthase-like enzyme initiates production of tetraterpenoid hydrocarbons in Botryococcus braunii Race L.

# publications[].label
High-throughput droplet microfluidics screening platform for selecting fast-growing and high lipid-producing microalgae from a mutant library.

# publications[].label
Properties of a Maize Glutathione S-Transferase That Conjugates Coumaric Acid and Other Phenylpropanoids.

# publications[].label
Characterization of a PDK1 homologue from the moss Physcomitrella patens.

# publications[].label
Review of the algal biology program within the National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts

# publications[].label
Adi3 is a Pdk1-interacting AGC kinase that negatively regulates plant cell death.

# publications[].label
An unexpected role for tomato threonine deaminase 2 in host defense against bacterial infection.

# publications[].label
Functional identification of triterpene methyltransferases from Botryococcus braunii race B.

# publications[].label
Microfluidic systems for microalgal biotechnology: A review

# publications[].label
PHYLOGENETIC PLACEMENT, GENOME SIZE, AND GC CONTENT OF THE LIQUID-HYDROCARBON-PRODUCING GREEN MICROALGA BOTRYOCOCCUS BRAUNII STRAIN BERKELEY (SHOWA) (CHLOROPHYTA)

# publications[].label
A high-throughput droplet microfluidics-based screening platform for quantitative analysis of algal growth and oil accumulation

# publications[].label
The plant cell death suppressor Adi3 interacts with the autophagic protein Atg8h.

# publications[].label
The tomato cell death suppressor Adi3 is restricted to the endosomal system in response to the Pseudomonas syringae effector protein AvrPto.

# publications[].label
Raman spectroscopy analysis of botryococcene hydrocarbons from the green microalga Botryococcus braunii.

# publications[].label
Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition).

# publications[].label
Molecular characterization of squalene synthase from the green microalga Botryococcus braunii, race B.

# publications[].label
Stress responses of the oil-producing green microalga Botryococcus braunii Race B.

# publications[].label
Vibrational spectra and DFT calculations of squalene

# publications[].label
A high-throughput microfluidic single-cell screening platform capable of selective cell extraction.

# publications[].label
The biofuel potential of the green colonial microalga Botryococcus braunii

# publications[].label
Farnesol is utilized for isoprenoid biosynthesis in plant cells via farnesyl pyrophosphate formed by successive monophosphorylation reactions.

# publications[].publisher
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

# publications[].label
Colony organization in the green alga Botryococcus braunii (Race B) is specified by a complex extracellular matrix.

# publications[].label
The T-loop extension of the tomato protein kinase AvrPto-dependent Pto-interacting protein 3 (Adi3) directs nuclear localization for suppression of plant cell death.

# publications[].label
Two Pdk1 phosphorylation sites on the plant cell death suppressor Adi3 contribute to substrate phosphorylation.

# publications[].label
A microfluidic photobioreactor array demonstrating high-throughput screening for microalgal oil production.

# publications[].label
Regulation of squalene synthase, a key enzyme of sterol biosynthesis, in tobacco.

# publications[].label
In vitro activity characterization of the tomato SnRK1 complex proteins.

# publications[].label
Raman spectra and DFT calculations for botryococcene and methylsqualene hydrocarbons from the B race of the green microalga Botryococcus braunii

# publications[].label
The ubiquitin ligase SEVEN IN ABSENTIA (SINA) ubiquitinates a defense-related NAC transcription factor and is involved in defense signaling.

# publications[].label
Isolation and Characterization of Cyclic C33 Botryococcenes and a Trimethylsqualene Isomer from Botryococcus braunii Race B.

# publications[].label
Selecting high-growth/high-lipid producing microalgae from a mutant library through droplet microfluidics

# publications[].label
Antisense expression of hmg1 from Arabidopsis thaliana encoding 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, reduces isoprenoid production in transgenic tobacco plants

# publications[].label
The -subunit of the SnRK1 complex is phosphorylated by the plant cell death suppressor Adi3.

# publications[].label
Identification of unique mechanisms for triterpene biosynthesis in Botryococcus braunii.

# publications[].publisher
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

# publications[].label
Raman spectroscopy compatible PDMS droplet microfluidic culture and analysis platform for on-chip lipidomics

# publications[].label
Screening for potential nuclear substrates for the plant cell death suppressor kinase Adi3 using peptide microarrays.

# publications[].label
Genome size and phylogenetic analysis of the A and L races of Botryococcus braunii

# publications[].label
Bio-crude transcriptomics: gene discovery and metabolic network reconstruction for the biosynthesis of the terpenome of the hydrocarbon oil-producing green alga, Botryococcus braunii race B (Showa).

# publications[].tags
12 Responsible Consumption and Production

# publications[].label
High-Throughput Droplet-based Screening System for Investigating Microalgae Library

# publications[].publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

# publications[].label
A droplet microfluidics platform for rapid microalgal growth and oil production analysis.

# publications[].label
Acoustophoretic droplet sorting system for high-throughput algal mutant library screening

# publications[].label
Effect of selected herbicides on growth and lipid content of Nannochloris oculata

# publications[].label
Characterization of botryococcene synthase enzyme activity, a squalene synthase-like activity from the green microalga Botryococcus braunii, Race B.

# publications[].label
Raman spectroscopy compatible PDMS droplet microfluidic culture and analysis platform towards on-chip lipidomics.

# publications[].label
Draft Nuclear Genome Sequence of the Liquid Hydrocarbon-Accumulating Green Microalga Botryococcus braunii Race B (Showa).

# publications[].label
Cover Image, Volume 113, Number 8, August 2016.

# publications[].label
BIOSYNTHESIS OF ECDYSTEROIDS IN ZEA-MAYS

# publications[].label
An ATP analog-sensitive version of the tomato cell death suppressor protein kinase Adi3 for use in substrate identification.

# publications[].label
Method for isolation of high molecular weight genomic DNA from Botryococcus biomass.

# publications[].label
A Unique Hydroxyproline-rich Glycoprotein from the green microalga Botryococcus braunii

# researcherOn[].label
EFRI-PSBR: Microalgae Lab-ON-Chip Photobioreactor Platform for Genetic Screening and Metabolic Analysis Leading To Scalable

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Science Foundation - (Arlington, Virginia, United States)

# researcherOn[].label
The Nuclear Role of the Plant Cell Death Suppressor Adi3

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Science Foundation - (Arlington, Virginia, United States)

# researcherOn[].label
Regulation of tomato cell death by the protein kinase Adi3 during resistance to Pseudomonas syringae

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
United States Department of Agriculture - (Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States)

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.preferredLabel
USDA-National Institute of Food And Agriculture

# researcherOn[].label
Protein kinase signaling cascades regulating plant cell death and their manipulation during plant-pathogen interactions

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institute of Food and Agriculture - (Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States)

# researcherOn[].label
Synthetic Crop for Direct Drop In Biofuel Production Through Photorespiration Intermediates and Engineering Terpenoid Pathways

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
United States Department of Energy - (Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States)

# streetAddress
Texas A&M University; Biochemistry & Biophysics; 2128 TAMU

# organizations[]
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

# organizations[]
Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES)

# schools[]
Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES)

# schools[]
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences