Graduates

• PMB Graduate Student (Dixit Lab), Danforth Plant Science Fellow; 2017-2023
• Consultant, McKinsey & Co.; 2023-current

Education:  B.S. Biochemistry, U. Wisconsin – Madison (2017)

Thesis:  Understanding the role of the cytoskeleton in orchestrating cell shape and processes

Activities:  President and Director of Marketing, Biotechnology and Life Sciences Advising Group (BALSA); Board Member, Center for Engineering MechanoBiology Trainee Leadership Council

Publications:

Fan Y, Bilkey N, Bolhuis DL, Slep KC, Dixit R (2024) A divergent TOG domain and oligomerization contribute to SPIRAL2 function in stabilizing microtubule minus ends.  Plant Cell 36, 1056-71

Bilkey N, Li H, Borodinov N, Ievlev AV, Ovchinnikova OS, Dixit R, Foston M (2022) Correlated mechanochemical maps of Arabidopsis thaliana primary cell walls using atomic force microscope infrared spectroscopy.  Quant Plant Biol 3, e31

Harkess A, McLoughlin F, Bilkey N, Elliott K, Emenecker R, Mattoon E, Miller K, Czymmek K, Vierstra R, Meyers BC, Michael TP (2021)  An improved Spirodela polyrhiza genome and proteomic analyses reveal a conserved chromosomal structure with high abundances of chloroplastic proteins favoring energy production.  J Exp Bot 72, 2491-500

Borodinov N, Bilkey N, Foston M, Ievlev AV, Belianinov A, Jesse S, Vasudevan RK, Kalinin SV, Ovchinnikova OS (2019) Application of pan-sharpening algorithm for correlative multimodal imaging using AFR-IR.  Comp Materials 5, 49

Vincent TR, Avramova M, Canham J, Higgins P, Bilkey N, Mugford ST, Pitino M, Toyota M, Gilroy S, Miller TJ, Hogenhout S, Sanders D (2017) Interplay of plasma membrane and vacuolar ion channels, together with BAK1, elicits rapid cytosolic calcium elevations in Arabidopsis during aphid feeding.  Plant Cell 29, 1460-79

• PMB Graduate Student (Stallings lab), 2018-2023

• Postdoc, Stallings Lab, Dept Mol Micro, Washington U School of Medicine (2023-current)

Education:  B.S. Biological Sciences, U. Missouri – Columbia (2018)

Thesis:  Investigating the role of DciA during the cell cycle of Mycobacterium

Publications:

Blaine HC, Simmons LA, Stallings CL (2023) Diverse mechanisms of helicase loading during DNA replication initiation in bacteria.  J Bacteriol 205, e0048722

Blaine HC, Burke JT, Ravi J, Stallings CS (2022) DciA helices operators exhibit diversity across bacterial phyla.  J Bacteriol 204, e0016322

• PMB Graduate Student (Dantas Lab); 2018-2023

Education:  B.A. Biology & English, Hartwick College (2017)

Thesis:  Antibiotic resistance at sequence, population, and global scales.

Activities:  WU Promoting Science Policy, Education, and Research (ProSPER)

Publications:

Blake KS (2024) Missing microbiomes: global underrepresentation restricts who research will benefit.  J Clin Invest 134, e183884

Blake KS, Kumar H, Loganathan A, Williford EE, Diorio-Toth L, Xue YP, Tang WK, Campbell TP, Chong DD, Angtuaco S, Wencewicz TA, Tolia NH, Dantas G (2024) Sequence-structure-function characterization of the emerging tetracycline destructase family of antibiotic resistance enzymes.  Commun Biol 7, 336

Blake KS, Schwartz DJ, Paruthiyil S, Wang B, Ning J, Isidean SD, Burns DS, Whiteson H, Lalani T, Fraser JA, Connor P, Troth T, Porter CK, Tribble DR, Riddle MS, Gutiérrez RL, Simons MP, Dantas G (2024) Gut microbiome and antibiotic resistance effects during travelers’ diarrhea treatment and prevention.  mBio 15, e02790923

Kumar H, Williford EE, Blake KS, Virgin-Downey B, Dantas G, Wencewicz TA, Tolia NH (2023) Structure of anhydrotetracycline-bound Tet(X6) reveals the mechanism for inhibition of type 1 tetracycline destructases.  Commun Biol 6, 423

Williford EE, DeAngelo CM, Blake KS, Kumar H, Lam KK, Jones KV, Tolia NH, Dantas G, Wencewicz TA (2023) Structure-based design of bisubstrate tetracycline destructase inhibitors that block flavin redox cycling.  J Med Chem 66, 3917-33

Talat A, Blake KS, Dantas G, Khan AU (2023) Metagenomic insight into microbiome and antibiotic resistance genes of high clinical concern in urban and rural hospital wastewater of northern India origin:  a major reservoir of antimicrobial resistance.  Microbiol Spectr 11, e0410222

Boolchandani M, Blake KS, Tilley DH, Cabada MM, Schwartz DJ, Patel S, Morales ML, Meza R, Soto G, Isidean SD, Porter CK, Simons MP, Dantas G (2022) Impact of international travel and diarrhea on gut microbiome and resistome dynamics.  Nature Commun 13, 7485

Blake KS, Choi J, Dantas G (2021) Approaches for characterizing and tracking hospital-associated multidrug-resistant bacteria.  Cell Mol Life Sci 78, 2585-206

• PMB Graduate Student (Dixit Lab), Danforth Plant Science Fellow; 2016-2023

• Head of Applied Science and Tissue Culture, Curio Wellness; 2024-current

Education:  B.A. Biological Sciences, U. Missouri-Columbia (2016)

Thesis:  Developing tools to study the effect of mechanical environment on plant cell growth and morphogenesis

Activities:  Young Scientist Program (YSP); 2022 Dean’s Award for Graduate Research Excellence

Publications:

Calcutt R, Aghli Y, Arinzeh T, Dixit R (2024) A fibrous scaffold for in vitro culture and experimental studies of Physcomitrium patens.  Plant Dir 8, e570

Calcutt R, Vincent R, Dean D, Arinzeh RL, Dixit R (2021) Plant cell adhesion and growth on artificial fibrous scaffolds as an in vitro model for plant development.  Sci Adv 7, eabj1469

Taylor I, Baer J, Calcutt R, Walker JC (2019) Hypermorphic SERK1 mutations function via a SOBIR1 pathway to activate floral abscission signaling.  Plant Physiol  180, 1219-29

• PMB Graduate Student (Dantas Lab); 2015-2019
• Postdoc, Bailey Lab, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; 2019-2022
• Computational Microbiology Data Scientist, Pluton Biosciences; 2022
• Computational Modeling Scientist, Montai Health; 2022-current

Education:  B.S. Environmental Studies, Brigham Young U. (2013); M.S. Environmental Studies, Brigham Young U. (2015)

Thesis:  Multi-omic understanding of the evolution of xenobiotic tolerance in bacterial isolates and communities

Activities:  Young Scientist Program (YSP)

Publications:

Campbell TP, Sun XQ, Patel VH, Sanz C, Morgan D, Dantas G (2020) The microbiome and resistome of chimpanzees, gorillas, and humans across host lifestyle and geography.  ISME J 14, 1584-99

Anthony WE, Carr RR, DeLorenzo DM, Campbell TP, Shang Z, Foston M, Moon TS, Dantas G (2019) Development of Rhodococcus opacus as a chassis for lignin valorization and bioproduction of high-value compounds.  Biotechnol Biofuels 12, 192

Roell GW, Carr RR, Campbell T, Shang Z, Henson WR, Czajka JJ, Martin HG, Zhang F, Foston M, Dantas G, Moon TS, Tang YJ (2019) A concerted systems biology analysis of phenol metabolism in Rhodococcus opacus PD630.  Metab Engr 55, 120-30

Campbell T*, Henson WR*, DeLorenzo DM*, Gao Y, Berla B, Kim SJ, Foston M, Moon TS, Dantas G (2018) Multi-omic elucidation of aromatic catabolism in adaptively evolved Rhodococcus opacus.  Metab Engr 49, 69-83

Aanderud ZT, Schoolmaster DR, Rigby D, Bybee J, Campbell T, Roundy BA (2017) Soild mediate the impact of fine woody debris on invasive and native grasses as whole trees are mechanically shredded into firebreaks in pinon-juniper woodlands.  J Arid Environ 137, 60-8

• PMB Graduate Student (Haswell Lab), NSF Graduate Research Fellow; Danforth Plant Science Fellow; 2016-2022

• Postdoc, Shah Lab, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center (2022-current)

Education:  B.A. Molecular Biology, Kenyon College (2014)

Thesis:  Discovering the signaling pathway triggered by the plant mechanosensitive ion channel MSL10

Activities:  Young Scientist Program (YSP)

Publications:

Flynn AJ, Miller K, Codjoe JM, King MR, Haswell ES (2023) Mechanosensitive ion channels MSL8, MSL9, and MSL10 have environmentally sensitive intrinsically disordered regions with distinct biophysical characteristics in vitro.  Plant Direct 7, e515

Codjoe JM, Richardson RA, McLoughlin F, Vierstra RD, Haswell ES (2022) Unbiased proteomic and forward genetic screens reveal that mechanosensitive ion channel MSL10 functions at ER-plasma membrane contact sites in Arabidopsis thaliana.  eLife 11, e80501

Basu D, Codjoe J, Veley K, Haswell E (2022) The mechanosensitive ion channel MSL10 modulates susceptibility to Pseudomonas syringae in Arabidopsis thaliana.  Mol Plant Microbe Interact 35, 567-82

Codjoe JM, Miller K, Haswell ES (2022) Plant cell mechanobiology: greater than the sum of its parts.  Plant Cell 34, 129-45

Basu D, Shoots JM, Haswell ES (2020) Interactions between the N- and C- termini of mechanosensitive ion channel AtMSL10 are consistent with a three-step mechanism for activating its signaling function. J Exp Bot 71, 4020-32

Maksaev G, Shoots JM, Ohri S, Haswell ES (2018) Nonpolar residues in the presumptive pore-lining helix of mechanosensitive channel MSL10 influence channel behavior and confirm its non-conducting function.  Plant Direct 2, e00059

Diani-Moore S, Shoots JM, Singh R, Zuk JB, Rifkind AB (2017) NAD+ loss, a new player in AhR biology: prevention of thymus atrophy and hepatosteatosis by NAD+ repletion.  Sci Rep 7, 2268

Shoots JM, Fraccalvieri D, Franks DG, Denison MS, Hahn ME, Bonati L, Powell WH (2015) An aryl hydrocarbon receptor from the salamander Ambystoma mexicanum exhibits low sensitivity to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.  Environ Sci Technol 49, 6993-7001

Smith N, Guttieri M, Souza E, Shoots J, Sorrells M, Sneller C (2011) Identification and validation of QTL for grain quality traits in a cross of soft wheat cultivars Pioneer brand 25R26 and Foster.  Crop Sci 51, 1224-3

• PMB Graduate Student (Bose Lab), Howard A. Schneiderman Fellow; 2018-2024

Education:  B.S. Biology, Allegheny College (2016)

Thesis: Sustainable Plastics from Plastic Metabolism:  Leveraging the Versatile Physiology of Purple Non-Sulfur Bacteria to Solve Bioproduction Problems

Activities:  PMB Steering Committee Student Representative; Young Scientist Program (YSP); Biotechnology and Life Sciences Advising Group (BALSA); InPrint

Publications:

Ranaivoarisoa TO, Bai W, Karthikeyan R, Steele H, Silberman M, Olabode J, Conners E, Gallagher B, Bose A (2024) Overexpression of RuBisCO form I and II genes in Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1 augments polyhydroxyalkanoate production heterotrophically and autotrophically.  Appl Environ Microbiol 90, e0143824

Conners EM, Rengasamy K, Ranaivoarisoa T, Bose A (2024) The phototrophic purple non-sulfur bacteria Rhodomicrobium spp. are novel chassis for bioplastic production. Microb Biotechnol 17, e14552

Conners EM, Rengasamy K, Bose A (2022) Electroactive biofilms: how microbial electron transfer enables bioelectrochemical applications.  J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 49, kuac012

Conners EM, Davenport EJ, Bose A (2021) Revised draft genome sequences of Rhodomicrobium vannielii ATCC 17100 and Rhodomicrobium udaipurense JA643.  Microbiol Resour Announc 10, e00022-21

Yeh A, Conners EM, Ramos-Jimenez RG, Firek B, Novak EA, Rogers MB, Cheek R, Ozolek J, Mollen KP, Morowitz MJ (2019) Plant-based enteral nutrition modified the gut microbiota and improves outcomes in murine models of colitis.  Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 7, 872-4

• PMB Graduate Student (Bose Lab); NIH Genomics Training Grant; 2018-2024

Education:  B.S. Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State U. (2014), M.S. Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State U. (2016)

Thesis:  Multi-comic analysis of phototrophic extracellular electron uptake in novel Rhodovulum spp. isolated from a marine estuary.

Publications:

Davenport EJ, Bose A (2022) Taxonomic re-evaluation and genomic comparison of novel extracellular electron uptake-capable Rhodovulum visakhapatnamense and Rhodovulum sulfidophilum isolates.  Microorganisms 10, 1235

Gupta D, Guzman MS, Rengasamy K, Stoica A, Singh R, Ranaivoarisoa TO, Davenport EJ, Bai W, McGinley B, Meacham JM, Bose A (2021) Photoferrotrophy and phototrophic extracellular electron uptake is common in the marine anoxygenic phototroph Rhodovulum sulfidophilum. ISME J 15, 3384-98

Conners EM, Davenport EJ, Bose A (2021) Revised draft genome sequences of Rhodomicrobium vannielii ATCC 17100 and Rhodomicrobium udaipurense JA643.  Microbiol Resour Announc 10, e00022-21

Davenport EJ, Neudeck MJ, Matson PG, Bullerjahn GS, Davis TW, Wilhelm SW, Denney MK, Krausfeldt LE, Stough JMA, Meyer KA, Dick GH, Johengen TH, Lindquist E, Tringe SG, McKay RML (2019) Metatranscriptomic analyses of diel metabolic functions during a microcystis bloom in western Lake Erie (United States).  Front Microbiol 10, 2081

• PMB Graduate Student (Bart Lab), NSF Graduate Research Fellow, Gates Millennium Scholar, Danforth Plant Science Fellow; 2017-2023

• Scientist, Bayer Crop Science (2024-current)

Education:  B.S. Horticulture, U. Florida (2017)

Thesis:  Investigating cassava susceptibility to Xanthomonas-induced bacterial blight using disease phenotyping and genome engineering strategies

Activities:  Executive Producer, GradCast; Director of Science Communications, WU Promoting Science Policy, Education, and Research (ProSPER)

Publications:

Elliott K, Veley KM, Jensen G, Gilbert KB, Norton J, Kambic L, Yoder M, Weil A, Motomura-Wages S, Bart RS (2024) CRISPR/Cas9-generated mutations in a sugar transporter gene reduce cassava susceptibility to bacterial blight.  Plant Physiol 195, 2566-78

Veley KM, Elliott K, Jensen G, Zhong Z, Feng S, Yoder M, Gilbert KB, Berry JC, Lin ZD, Ghoshal B, Gallego-Bartolomé J, Norton J, Motomura-Wages S, Carrington JC, Jacobsen SE, Bart RS (2023) Improving cassava bacterial blight resistance by editing the epigenome.  Nature Commun 14, 85

Elliott K, Berry JC, Kim H, Bart RS (2022) A comparison of ImageJ and machine learning based image analysis methods to measure cassava bacterial blight disease severity.  Plant Methods 18, 86

Cox KL, Elliott KR, Harris TM (2021) Creating supportive environments in academia for Black scientists to thrive.  Plant Cell 33, 2112-5

Friesner J, Colón-Carmona A, Schnoes AM, Stepanova A, Mason GA, Macintosh GC, Ullah H, Baxter I, Callis J, Sierra-Cajas K, Elliott K, Haswell ES, Zavala ME, Wildermuth M, Williams M, Ayalew M, Henkhaus N, Prunet N, Lemaux PG, Yadegari R, Amasino R, Hangarter R, Innes R, Brady S, Long T, Woodford-Thomas T, May V, Sun Y, Dinneny JR (2021) Broadening the impact of plant science through innovative, integrative, and inclusive outreach.  Plant Direct 5, e00316

Harkess A, McLoughlin F, Bilkey N, Elliott K, Emenecker R, Mattoon E, Miller K, Czymmek K, Vierstra R, Meyers BC, Michael TP (2021)  An improved Spirodela polyrhiza genome and proteomic analyses reveal a conserved chromosomal structure with high abundances of chloroplastic proteins favoring energy production.  J Exp Bot 72, 2491-500

Bao Z, Clancy MA, Carvalho RF, Elliott K, Folta KM (2017) Identification of novel growth regulators in plant populations expressing random peptides.  Plant Physiol 175, 619-27

• PMB Graduate Student (Strader/Holehouse Lab), Danforth Plant Science Fellow; 2017-2021
• Postdoc, Holehouse Lab, Washington University Medical School, 2021-current

Education:  B.S. Plant Biology & Genetics, U. Minnesota – Twin Cities (2016)

Thesis:  Advances in the Understanding of Auxin Signaling Through Indirect Mechanisms

Activities:  PMB Steering Committee Student Representative

Publications:

Emenecker RJ, Cammarata J, Yuan I, Howard C, Ebrahimi Naghani S, Robert HS, Nambara E, Strader LC (2023) Abscisic acid biosynthesis is necessary for full auxin effects on hypocotyl elongation.  Development 150, dev202106

Jing H, Korasick DA, Emenecker RJ, Morffy N, Wilkinson EG, Powers SK, Strader LC (2022) Regulation of AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR condensation and nucleo-cytoplasmic partitioning. Nat Commun 13, 4015

Sankaranarayanan M, Emenecker RJ, Wilby EL, Jahnel M, Trussina IREA, Wayland M, Alberti S, Holehouse AS, Weil TT (2021) Adaptable P body physical states differentially regulate bicoid mRNA storage during early Drosophila development.  Dev Cell 56, 2886-901

Emenecker RJ, Griffith D, Holehouse AS (2021) Metapredict: a fast, accurate, and easy-to-use predictor of consensus disorder and structure. Biophys J 120, 4312-9

Emenecker RJ, Holehouse A, Strader LC (2021) Biological phase separation and bimolecular condensates in plants.  Annu Rev Plant Biol 72, 17-46

Emenecker RJ, Holehouse AS, Strader LC (2021) Sequence determinants of in cell condensate morphology, dynamics, and oligomerization as measured by number and brightness analysis. Cell Commun Signal 19, 65

Harkess A, McLoughlin F, Bilkey N, Elliott K, Emenecker R, Mattoon E, Miller K, Czymmek K, Vierstra R, Meyers BC, Michael TP (2021)  An improved Spirodela polyrhiza genome and proteomic analyses reveal a conserved chromosomal structure with high abundances of chloroplastic proteins favoring energy production.  J Exp Bot 72, 2491-500

Emenecker R, Holehouse AS, Strader LC (2020) Emerging roles for phase separation in plants.  Dev Cell 55, 69-83

Emenecker R, Strader LC (2020) Auxin-abscisic acid interactions in plant growth and development. Biomolecules 10, 281

Chopra R, Johnson EB, Emenecker R, Cahoon EB, Lyons J, Kliebenstein DJ, Daniels E, Dorn KM, Esfahanian M, Folstad N, Frels K, McGinn M, Ott M, Gallaher C, Altendorf K, Berroyer A, Ismail B, Anderson JA, Wyse DL, Ulmasov T, Sedbrook JC, Marks MD (2020) Identification and stacking of crucial traits required for the domestication of pennycress.  Nature Food 1, 84-91 

Balkunde R, Foroughi L, Ewan E, Emenecker R, Cavalli V, Dixit R (2019) Mechanism of microtubule plus-end tracking by the plant-specific SPR1 protein and its development as a versatile plus-end marker.  J Biol Chem 294, 16374-84

Powers SK, Holehouse AS, Korasick DA, Schreiber KH, Clark N, Jing H, Emenecker R, Han S, Tycksen E, Hwang I, Sozzani R, Jez JM, Pappu RV, Strader LC (2019) Nucleo-cytoplasmic partitioning of Auxin Response Factor proteins controls auxin responses in Arabidopsis thaliana.  Mol Cell 76, 177-90

Tomlinson L, Ying Y, Emenecker R, Smoker M, Taylor J, Perkins S, Smith J, MacLean D, Olszewski NE, Jones JDG (2018) Using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in tomato to create a gibberellin-responsive dominant dwarf DELLA allele.  Plant Biotech J 17, 132-40

• PB Graduate Student (Strader Lab), NSF Graduate Research Fellow, Olin Biomedical Fellow; 2011-2016
• Postdoc, Springer Lab, U. Minnesota; 2016-2019
• Assistant Professor, Dept. of Biology, Hofstra University; 2019-2023
• Global Data Science Specialist, Elemental Enzymes, 2023-current

Education:  B.S. Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois U. – Edwardsville (2011)

Thesis:  New Regulators of Auxin Response Reveal Insights into Cell Expansion

Publications:

Trujillo-Hernandez JA, Bariat L, Enders TA, Strader LC, Reichheld JP, Belin C (2020) A glutathione-dependent control of IBA pathway supports Arabidopsis root system adaptation to phosphate deprivation.  J Exp Bot 71, 4843-57

Michniewicz M, Ho CH, Enders TA, Floro E, Damodoran S, Gunther LK, Powers SK, Frick EM, Topp CN, Frommer WB, Strader LC (2019) Transporter of IBA1 links auxin and cytokinin to influence root architecture.  Dev Cell 50, 599-609

Enders TA, Frick EM, Strader LC (2017) An Arabidopsis kinase cascade influences auxin-responsive cell expansion. Plant J 92, 68-81

Enders TA, Oh S, Yang Z, Montgomery BL, Strader LC (2015) Genome sequencing of Arabidopsis abp1-5 reveals second-site mutations that may affect phenotypes.  Plant Cell 27, 1820-6

Enders TA, Strader LC (2015) Auxin activity: past, present, and future.  Am J Bot 102, 180-96

Korasick DA, Enders TA, Strader LC (2013) Auxin biosynthesis and storage forms.  J Exp Bot 64, 2541-55

Rinaldi MA, Liu J, Enders TA, Bartel B, Strader LC (2012) A gain-of-function mutation in IAA16 confers reduced responses to auxin and abscisic acid and impedes plant growth and fertility.  Plant Mol Biol 79, 359-73

Esselman E, Enders TA, Smith M, McKenzie P (2012) Examination of hybridization relationships between Schoenoplectus hallii and S. saximontanus (Cyperaceae) using ISSR markers.  Phytoneuron 36, 1-9

• PB Graduate Student (Dixit Lab); 2008-2013
• Director of Technology Transfer, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO; 2014-2018
• Director of Technology Transfer, Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY; 2018-2019
• Patent Agent, Hamilton Brook Smith Reynolds; 2020-current

Education:  B.S. Biology, U. Kansas (2007)

Thesis:  Cortical Microtuble Array Organization

Publications:

Fishel EA, Dixit R (2013) Role of nucleation in cortical microtubule array organization: variations on a theme.  Plant J 75, 270-7

Zhang Q, Fishel E, Bertroche T, Dixit R (2013) Microtubule severing at crossover sites by katanin generates ordered cortical microtubule arrays in Arabidopsis.  Curr Biol 23, 2191-5

• PB Graduate Student (Strader Lab), USDA-NIFA Graduate Fellow, Catharine M. Lieneman Botany Scholarship, NSF Graduate Fellowship Honorable Mention; 2012-2017
• Postdoc, Klee Lab, U Florida; 2017-2021
• Scientific Manager – Trait Discovery, Benson Hill; 2021-current

Education:  B.S. Biology, Allegheny College (2012)

Thesis:  Role of peroxisomes and peroxisome-derivide products in controlling plant growth and stress responses

Activities:  Young Scientist Program (YSP) – Experiment Design; Science on Tap – Student Coordinator; St. Louis Science Center – Life Science Lab Volunteer

Publications:

Michniewicz M, Ho CH, Enders TA, Floro E, Damodoran S, Gunther LK, Powers SK, Frick EM, Topp CN, Frommer WB, Strader LC (2019) Transporter of IBA1 links auxin and cytokinin to influence root architecture.  Dev Cell 50, 599-609

Frick EM, Strader LC (2018) They can handle the stress: MPK17 and PMD1 act in a salt-specific pathway.  Plant Signal Behav 13, e1428518

Frick EM, Strader LC (2018) Roles for IBA-derived auxin in plant development.  J Exp Bot 69, 169-77

Frick EM, Strader LC (2018) Kinase MPK17 and peroxisome division factor PMD1 influence salt-induced peroxisome proliferation.  Plant Physiol 176, 340-51

Enders TA, Frick EM, Strader LC (2017) An Arabidopsis kinase cascade influences auxin-responsive cell expansion. Plant J 92, 68-81

Michniewicz M, Frick EM, Strader LC (2015) Gateway-compatible tissue-specific vectors for plant transformation.  BMC Res Notes 8, 1010

Veley KM, Maksaev G, Frick EM, January E, Kloepper SC, Haswell ES (2014) Arabidopsis MSL10 has a regulated cell death signaling activity that is separable from its mechanosensitive ion channel activity.  Plant Cell 26, 3115-31

• PMB Graduate Student (Bose Lab); 2015-2020
• Postdoc, Nayak Lab, Dept. Molecular & Cell Biology, UC-Berkeley; 2020-present

Education:  B.Sc. Microbiology, Tribhuvan U. (2009); M.S. Biology, California State U. – Northridge (2014)

Thesis:  Understanding the molecular mechanism of extracellular electron uptake and phototrophic Fe(II) oxidation in Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1

Publications:

Gupta D, Guzman MS, Rengasamy K, Stoica A, Singh R, Ranaivoarisoa TO, Davenport EJ, Bai W, McGinley B, Meacham JM, Bose A (2021) Photoferrotrophy and phototrophic extracellular electron uptake is common in the marine anoxygenic phototroph Rhodovulum sulfidophilum. ISME J 15, 3384-98

Gupta D, Guzman MS, Bose A (2020) Extracellular electron uptake by autotrophic microbes:  physiological, ecological, and evolutionary implications.  J Ind Microbiol Biotech 47, 863-76

Singh R, Ranaivoarisoa TA, Gupta D, Bai W, Bose A (2020) Genetic redundancy in iron and manganese transport in the metabolically versatile bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1.  Appl Environ Micro 86, e1057-20

Gupta D, Sutherland MC, Rengasamy K, Meacham J, Kranz RG, Bose A (2019) Photoferrotrophs produce a PioAB electron conduit for extracellular electron uptake.  mBio 10, e02668-19

Gupta D, Guzman MS, Bose A (2019) Draft genome sequence of a marine photoferrotrophic bacterium, Rhodovulum robiginosum DSM 12329 (T).  Microbiol Resour Announc 8, e01684-18

Ramadoss N, Gupta D, Vaidya BN, Joshee N, Basu C (2018) Functional characterization of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase gene in Arabidopsis thaliana and its potential in providing flood tolerance.  Biochem Biophys Res Comm 503, 365-70

Immethun CM, DeLorenzo DM, Focht CM, Gupta D, Johnson CB, Moon TS  (2017) Physical, chemical, and metabolic state sensors expand the synthetic biology toolbox for Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.  Biotechnol Bioeng 114, 1561-9

Guzman MS, McGinley B, Santiago-Merced N, Gupta D, Bose A (2017) Draft genome sequences of three closely related isolates of the purple nonsulfur bacterium Rhodovulum sulfidophilum.  Genome Announc 5, e00029-17

Chairs M, Gupta D, Joshee N, Cooper KK, Basu C (2017) RNA-seq analysis of the salt stress-induced transcripts in fast-growing bioenergy tree, Paulownia elongata.  Plant Environ Interact 12, 128-36

Gupta D, Ip T, Summers ML, Basu C (2015) 2-Methyl-3-buten-2-ol (MBO) synthase expression in Nostoc punctiforme leads to over production of phytols.  Bioengineered 6, 33-41

Gupta D, Eldakak M, Rohila JS, Basu C (2014) Biochemical analysis of ‘kerosene tree’ Hymenaea courbaril L. under heat stress.  Plant Signal Behav 9, e972851

Gupta D Summers ML, Basu C (2014) Engineering an isoprenoid pathway in Escherichia coli for production of 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol: a potential biofuel.  Mol Biotechnol 56, 516-23

• PB Graduate Student (Haswell Lab), Monsanto Graduate Fellow, NSF Graduate Fellowship Honorable Mention; 2012-2017
• Science Writer, U. Wisconsin – Madison Communications Office; 2017-current

Education:  B.S. Biology & Chemistry, Case Western U. (2012)

Thesis:  Strategies for Success: Mechanosensitive Channel MSL8 Regulates Mechanical Challenges during Pollen Rehydration and Growth

Activities:  AAAS Mass Media Communications Fellow (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel); iBiology Competition Finalist; Science On Tap – Student Coordinator

Publications:

Hamilton ES, Haswell ES (2017) The tension-sensitive ion transport activity of MSL8 is critical for its function in pollen hydration and germination.  Plant Cell Physiol 58, 1222-37

Hamilton ES, Jensen GS, Maksaev G, Katims A, Sherp AM, Haswell ES (2015) Mechanosensitive channel MSL8 regulates osmotic forces during pollen hydration and germination.  Science 350, 438-41

Brady SM, Burow M, Busch W, Carlborg Ö, Denby KJ, Glazebrook J, Hamilton ES, Harmer SL, Haswell ES, Maloof JN, Springer NM, Kliebenstein DJ (2015) Reassess the t test: interact with all your data via ANOVA.  Plant Cell 27, 2088-94

Hamilton ES, Schlegel AM, Haswell ES (2015) United in diversity: mechanosensitive ion channels in plants. Annu Rev Plant Biol 66, 113-37

Li Q, Sadhukhan S, Berthiaume JM, Ibarra RA, Tang H, Deng S, Hamilton E, Nagy LE, Tochtrop GP, Zhang GF (2013) 4-Hydroxy-2(E)-nonenal (HNE) catabolism and formation of HNE adducts are modulated by β oxidation of fatty acids in the isolated rat heart.  Free Radic Biol Med 58, 35-44

Stucky NL, Gregory E, Winter MK, He YY, Hamilton ES, McCarson KE, Berman NE (2011) Sex differences in behavior and expression of CGRP-related genes in a rodent model of chronic migraine.  Headache 51, 674-92

Anderson J, Sandhir R, Hamilton ES, Berman NE (2009) Impaired expression of neuroprotective molecules in the HIF-1alpha pathway following traumatic brain injury in aged mice.  J Neurotrauma 26, 1557-66

• PMB Graduate Student (Bart Lab), Chancellor’s Fellow; 2018-2023

Education:  B.S. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Fisk U. (2018)

Thesis:  A Dynamic Duo:  Investigating the Interactions Between Xanthomonas citric pv. malvacearum and Pseudomonas syringae

Activities:  Young Scientists Program (YSP); Deneb STARS Program Tutor

Publication:

Gowda SA, Shrestha N, Harris TM, Phillips AZ, Fang H, Sood S, Zhang K, Bourland F, Bart R, Kuraparthy V (2022) Identification and genomic characterization of major effect bacterial blight resistance locus (BB-13) in Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Theor Appl Genet 135, 4421-36

Cox KL, Elliott KR, Harris TM (2021) Creating supportive environments in academia for Black scientists to thrive.  Plant Cell 33, 2112-5

Colemon A, Harris TM, Ramanathan S (2020) DNA hypomethylation drives changes in MAGE-A gene expression resulting in alteration of proliferative status of cells.  Genes Environ 42, 24

• PMB Graduate Student (Jez Lab), NSF Graduate Research Fellow, Danforth Plant Science Fellow; 2014-2018
• NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, Jander Lab, Boyce Thompson Institute/Cornell University; 2018-2019
• Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Williams College, 2020-current

Education:  B.S. Biology, Henderson State U. (2014)

Thesis:  New Routes for Aromatic Amino Acid Metabolism in Plants

Activities:  WUSTL Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) Member

Publications:

Holland CK, Jez JM (2024) Fidelity in plant hormone modifications catalyzed by Arabidopsis GH3 acyl acid amido synthetases.  J Biol Chem 300, 107421

Zhang K, Lee JS, Liu R, Chan ZT, Dawson TJ, De Togni ES, Edwards CT, Eng IK, Gao AR, Goicouria LA, Hall EM, Hu KA, Huang L, Kizhner A, Kodama KC, Lin AZ, Liu JY, Lu AY, Peng OW, Ryu EP, Shi S, Sorkin ML, Walker PL, Wang GJ, Xu MC, Yang RS, Cascella B, Cruz W, Holland CK, McClerklin SA, Kunkel BN, Lee SG, Jez JM (2020) Investigating the reaction and substrate preference of indole-3-acetaldehyde dehydrogenase from the plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae PtoDC3000.  Biosci Rep 40, BSR20202959

Lee SG, Harline K, Abar O, Akadri SO, Bastian AG, Chen HY, Duan M, Focht CM, Groziak AR, Kao J, Kottapalli JS, Leong MC, Lin JJ, Liu R, Luo JO, Meyer CM, Mo AF, Pahgn SH, Penna V, Raciti CD, Srinath A, Sudhakur S, Tang JD, Cox BR, Holland CK, Cascella B, Cruz W, McClerklin SA, Kunkel BN, Jez JM (2020) The plant pathogen enzyme AldC is a long-chain aliphatic aldehyde dehydrogenase. J Biol Chem 295, 13914-26

Lee SG, Chung MS, DeMarsilis AJ, Holland CK, Jaswaney RV, Jiang C, Kroboth JHP, Kulshrestha K, Marcelo RZW, Meyyappa VM, Nelson GB, Patel JK, Petronio AJ, Powers SK, Qin PR, Ramachandran M, Rayapati D, Rincon JA, Rocha A, Rodinho Nunes Ferreira JG, Steinbrecher MK, Yao K, Zhang EJ, Zou AJ, Gang M, Sparks M, Cascella B, Cruz W, Jez JM (2020) Structural and biochemical analysis of phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase from the pine wilt nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus.  Mol Biochem Parasitol 238, 111291

Holland CK, Westfall CS, Schaffer JE, De Santiago A, Zubieta C, Alvarez S, Jez JM (2019) Brassicaceae-specific Gretchen Hagen 3 acyl acid amido synthetases conjugate amino acids to chorismate, a precursor of aromatic amino acids and salicylic acid.  J Biol Chem 294, 16855-64

Holland CK, Jez JM (2018) Arabidopsis:  the original plant chassis organism.  Plant Cell Rep 37, 1359-66

Holland CK, Jez JM (2018) Structural studies of proteins controlling jasmonic acid responses.  In Plant Structural Biology: Hormonal Regulators (Hejatko J and Takoshima T, eds), pp 67-82, Springer-Verlag, NY

Holland CK, Jez JM (2018) Reaction mechanism of prephenate dehydrogenase from the alternate tyrosine biosynthesis pathway in plants.  ChemBioChem 19, 1132-6

Holland CK, Berkovich DA, Kohn ML, Maeda H, Jez JM (2018) Structural basis for substrate recognition and inhibition of prephenate aminotransferase from Arabidopsis.  Plant J 94, 304-14

Holland CK*, Kroll K*, Starks CM, Jez JM (2017) Evolution of allosteric regulation in chorismate mutases from early plants.  Biochem J 474, 3705-17 (*equal contribution)

Holland CK*, Schenck CA*, Schneider MR, Men Y, Lee SG, Jez JM, Maeda HA (2017) Molecular basis of the evolution of alternative tyrosine biosynthesis pathways in plants.  Nature Chem Biol 13, 1029-35 (†equal contribution)

Augustin MM, Shukla AK, Starks CM, O’Neil-Johnson M, Han L, Holland CK, Kutchan TM (2017) Biosynthesis of Veratrum californicum specialty chemicals in Camelina sativa seed.  Plant Biotech Rep 11, 29-41

Holland CK, Cascella BG, Jez JM (2016) Dissonance strikes a chord in stilbene synthesizers.  Cell Chem Biol 23, 1140-1

Kilgore M, Holland CK, Jez JM, Kutchan TM (2016) Identification of a bi-functional noroxomaritidine/norcraugsodine reductase in the Amaryllidaceae alkaloid biosynthetic pathway.  J Biol Chem 291, 16740-52

• PMB Graduate Student (Kunkel Lab), Catharine M. Lieneman Botany Scholarship; 2018-2023
• Postdoc, Bart Lab, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center; 2024-current

Education:  B.A. Biology, Central College – Iowa (2018)

Thesis: Investigating the response of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato strain DC3000 to the plant hormone auxin (IAA)

Activities:  BioEntrepreneurship Core (BEC), Vice President

Publication:

Johnson JMB, Kunkel BN (2024) AefR, a TetR family transcriptional repressor, regulates several auxin responses in Pseudomonas syringae strain PtoDC3000.  Mol Plant Microbe Interact 37, 155-165

Kunkel BN, Johnson JMB (2021) Auxin plays multiple roles during plant-pathogen interactions.  Cold Spring Har Perspect Biol 13, a040022

• PMB Graduate Student (Pakrasi Lab), Imaging Sciences Pathway Fellow, 2016-2022
• Scientist, Bayer Crop Sciences, 2022-current

Education:  B.A. Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Cornell U. (2016)

Thesis:  Role of extrinsic proteins in assembly and maintenance of photosystem II

Activities:  Washington University Women in STEM (WiSTEM); Young Scientist Program (YSP)

Publications:

Adams MC, Schiltz CJ, Sun J, Hosford CJ, Johnson VM, Pan H, Borbat PP, Freed JH, Thomason LC, Court C, Court DL, Chappie JS (2024) The crystal structure of bacteriophage λ RexA provides novel insights into the DNA binding properties of Rex-like phage exclusion proteins. Nucleic Acids Res 52, 4659-75

Johnson VM, Pakrasi HB (2022) Advances in the understanding of the lifecycle of photosystem II.  Microorganisms 10, 836

Johnson VM, Biswas S, Roose JL, Pakrasi HB, Liu H (2022) Psb27, a photosystem II assembly protein, enables quenching of excess light energy during its participation in the PSII lifecycle.  Photosynth Res 152, 297-304

Liu D, Johnson VM, Pakrasi HB (2020) A reversibly induced CRISPRi system targeting photosystem II in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.  ACS Syn Biol 9, 1441-9

Weisz DA, Johnson VM, Niedzwiedzki DM, Shinn MK, Liu H, Klitze CF, Gross ML, Blankenship RE, Lohman TM, Pakrasi HB (2019) A novel chlorophyll protein complex in the repair cycle of photosystem II.  Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 116, 21907-13

• PB Graduate Student (Kutchan Lab); 2010-2015
• Postdoc, Dudareva Lab, Purdue U; 2016-2017
• Assistant Scientist, Emory U; 2017-2019
• Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Fellow, Centers for Disease Control, 2019-2022
• Scientist, Elo Life Systems; 2022-current

Education:  B.S. Biology, Eastern Kentucky U. (2010)

Thesis:  Identification of Alkaloid Pathway Genes from Non-Model Plant Species in the Amaryllidaceae

Publications:

Roth S, Kilgore MB, Kutchan TM, Mueller M (2018) Exploiting the catalytic diversity of short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases: versatile enzymes from plants with extended imine substrate scope.  ChemBioChem 19, 1849-52

Kilgore MB, Kutchan TM (2016) The Amaryllidaceae alkaloids:  biosynthesis and methods for enzyme discovery.  Phytochem Rev 15, 317-37

Kilgore MB, Holland CK, Jez JM, Kutchan TM (2016) Identification of a noroxomaritidine reductase with Amaryllidaceae alkaloid biosynthesis related activities.  J Biol Chem 291, 16740-52

Kilgore MB, Augustin MM, May GD, Crow JA, Kutchan TM (2016) CYP96T1 of Narcissus sp. aff. pseudonarcissus catalyzes formation of the para-para’ C-C phenol couple in the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids.  Front Plant Sci 7:225

Kilgore MB, Augustin MM, Starks CM, O’Neil-Johnson M, May GD, Crow JA, Kutchan TM (2014). Cloning and characterization of a norbelladine 4′-O-methyltransferase involved in the biosynthesis of the Alzheimer’s drug galanthamine in Narcissus sp. aff. pseudonarcissus.  PLoS One 9, e103223

• PB Graduate Student (Blankenship Lab), Monsanto Graduate Fellow; 2009-2016
• Postdoc, Williams Lab, City of Hope Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA; 2016-2019
• Scientist, Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA; 2019-current

Education:  B.A. Biology, St. Louis U. (2009)

Thesis:  Structure-function Analysis of Blue Copper Proteins

Publications:

Liu H, Lu Y, Wolf B, Saer R, King JD, Blankenship RE (2018) Photoactivation and relaxation studies on the cyanobacterial orange carotenoid protein in the presence of copper ion.  Photosynth Res 135, 143-7

Mendez DL, Babbitt SE, King JD, D’Alessandro J, Watson MB, Blankenship RE, Mirica LM, Kranz RG (2017) Engineered holocytochrome c synthases that biosynthesize new cytochromes c.  Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 114, 2235-40

Lu Y, Liu H, Saer RG, Zhang H, Meyer CM, Li VL, Shi L, King JD, Gross ML, Blankenship RE (2017) Native mass spectrometry analysis of oligomerization states of fluorescence recovery protein and orange carotenoid protein:  two proteins involved in the cyanobacterial photoprotection cycle.  Biochemistry 56, 160-6

Yoneda A, Wittmann BJ, King JD, Blankenship RE, Dantas G (2016) Transcriptomic analysis illuminates genes involved in chlorophyll synthesis after nitrogen starvation in Acaryochloris sp. CCMEE 5410.  Photosynth Res 129, 171-82

Liu H, Zhang H, Orf GS, Lu Y, Jiang J, King JD, Wolf NR, Gross ML, Blankenship RE (2016) Dramatic domain rearrangements of the cyanobacterial orange carotenoid protein upon photoactivation.  Biochemistry 55, 1003-9

King JD, Liu H, He G, Orf GS, Blankenship RE (2014) Chemical activation of the cyanobacterial orange carotenoid protein.  FEBS Lett 588, 4561-5

King JD, Harrington L, Lada BM, He G, Cooley JW, Blankenship RE (2014) Site-directed mutagenesis of the highly perturbed copper site of auracyanin D.  Arch Biochem Biophys 564: 237-43

Liu H, Zhang H, King JD, Wolf NR, Prado M, Gross ML, Blankenship RE (2014) Mass spectrometry footprinting reveals the structural rearrangements of cyanobacterial orange carotenoid protein upon light activation.  Biochim Biophys Acta 1837, 1955-63

He G, Zhang H, King JD, Blankenship RE (2014) Structural analysis of the homodimeric reaction center complex from the photosynthetic green sulfur bacterium Chlorobaculum tepidum.  Biochemistry 53, 4924-30

King JD, McIntosh CL, Halsey CM, Lada BM, Niedzwiedzki DM, Cooley JW, Blankenship RE (2013) Metalloproteins diversified: the auracyanins are a family of cupredoxins that stretch the spectral and redox limits of blue copper proteins. Biochemistry 52, 8267-75

Majumder EL, King JD, Blankenship RE (2013) Alternative complex III from phototrophic bacteria and its electron acceptor auracyanin.  Biochim Biophys Acta 1827, 1383-91

• PMB Graduate Student (Jez Lab), Howard A. Schneiderman Fellow; 2018-2024

Education:  B.A. Biochemistry U. Pennsylvania (2018)

Thesis:  Molecular mechanisms behind methionine-derived glucosinolate diversity in Brassica plants

Activities:  Protein Science Intern –  Bayer Crop Science

Publications:

Kitainda V, Jez JM (2024) Kinetic and catalytic mechanism of the methionine-derived glucosinolate biosynthesis enzyme methylthioalkylmalate synthase.  J Biol Chem 300, 107814

Kitainda V, Jez JM (2024) 4-Aldrithiol-based photometric assay for detection of methylthioalkylmalate synthase (MAMS) activity.  Methods Enzymol 702, 229-245

Kitainda V, Jez JM (2021) Structural studies of aliphatic glucosinolate chain-elongation enzymes.  Antioxidants 10, 1500

Schaffer JE, Kukshal V, Miller JJ, Kitainda V, Jez JM (2021) Beyond x-rays:  an overview of emerging structural biology methods.  Emerging Topics Life Sci 5, 221-30

• PMB Graduate Student (Strader & Jez Labs), NSF Graduate Research Fellow, USDA-NIFA Graduate Fellow, Olin Biomedical Fellow; 2012-2015
• Postdoc, Tanner Lab, U. Missouri Columbia; 2015-2019
• Senior Scientist, Bayer Crop Science, 2019-current

Education:  B.S. Chemistry, U. Missouri – Columbia (2009); M.S. Chemistry, U. Wisconsin-Madison (2011)

Thesis:  Investigating Auxin Signaling Through Auxin Response Factor (ARF) Interactions and Stability

Publications:

Jing H, Korasick DA, Emenecker RJ, Morffy N, Wilkinson EG, Powers SK, Strader LC (2022) Regulation of AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR condensation and nucleo-cytoplasmic partitioning. Nat Commun 13, 4015

Powers SK, Holehouse AS, Korasick DA, Schreiber KH, Clark NM, Jing H, Emenecker R, Han S, Tycksen E, Hwang I, Sozzani R, Jez JM, Pappu RV, Strader LC (2019) Nucleo-cytoplasmic partitioning of ARF proteins controls auxin responses in Arabidopsis thaliana.  Mol Cell 76, 177-90

Korasick DA, Jez JM (2016) Protein domains: structure, function, and methods.  In Encyclopedia of Cell Biology, Vol. 1 (Bradshaw RA & Stahl P, Eds) pp. 91-7, Academic Press, Waltham, MA

Korasick DA, Jez JM, Strader LC (2015) Refining the nuclear auxin response pathway through structural biology.  Curr Opin Plant Biol 27, 22-8

Korasick DA, Chatterjee S, Tonelli M, Dashti H, Lee SG, Westfall CS, Fulton DB, Andreotti AH, Amarasinghe GK, Strader LC, Jez JM (2015) Defining a two-pronged structural model for PB1 domain interaction in plant auxin responses. J Biol Chem 290, 12868-78

Smith JM, Leslie ME, Robinson SJ, Korasick DA, Zhang T, Backues SK, Cornish PV, Koo AJ, Bednarek SY, Hesse A (2014) Loss of Arabidopsis thaliana dynamin-related protein 2B reveals separation of innate immune signaling pathways.  PLos Pathogens 10, e1004578

Korasick DA, Westfall CS, Lee SG, Nanao M, Dumas R, Hagen G, Guilfoyle TJ, Jez JM, Strader LC (2014) Molecular basis for auxin response factor protein interaction and the control of auxin response repression.  Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 111, 5427-32

Korasick DA, Enders TA, Strader LC (2013) Auxin biosynthesis and storage forms.  J Exp Bot 64, 2541-55

Strieter ER, Korasick DA (2012) Unraveling the complexity of ubiquitin signaling.  ACS Chem Biol 7, 52-63

Backues SK, Korasick DA, Heese A, Bednarek SY (2010) The Arabidopsis dynamin-related protein2 family is essential for gametophyte development.  Plant Cell 22, 3218-31

Korasick DA, McMichael C, Walker KA, Anderson JC, Bednarek SY, Heese A (2010) Novel functions of stomatal cytokinesis-defective 1 (SCD1) in innate immune responses against bacteria. J Biol Chem 285, 23342-50

• PMB Graduate Student (Pappu lab), 2018-2023

Education:  B.S. Microbial Biology, U. California – Berkeley (2015)

Thesis: The physical and biochemical properties of phase-separating RNA-binding proteins

Activities:  Young Scientist Program (YSP) – Genetics team

Publications:

King MR, Ruff KM, Lin AZ, Pant A, Farag M, Lalmansingh JM, Wu T, Fossat MJ, Ouyang W, Lew MD, Lundberg E, Vahey MD, Pappu RV (2024) Macromolecular condensation organizes nucleolar sub-phases to set up a pH gradient.  Cell 187, 1889-906

Lin AZ, Ruff KM, Dar F, Jalihal A, King MR, Lalmansingh JM, Posey AE, Erkamp NA, Seim I, Gladfelter AS, Pappu RV (2023) Dynamical control enables the formation of demixed biomolecular condensates.  Nature Commun 14, 7678

Zhang K, Lee JS, Liu R, Chan ZT, Dawson TJ, De Togni ES, Edwards CT, Eng IK, Gao AR, Goicouria LA, Hall EM, Hu KA, Huang L, Kizhner A, Kodama KC, Lin AZ, Liu JY, Lu AY, Peng OW, Ryu EP, Shi S, Sorkin ML, Walker PL, Wang GJ, Xu MC, Yang RS, Cascella B, Cruz W, Holland CK, McClerklin SA, Kunkel BN, Lee SG, Jez JM (2020) Biochemical analysis of indole-3-acetylaldehyde dehydrogenase from the plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae PtoDC3000.  Biosci Rep 40, BSR20202959

Souza CA, Li S, Lin AZ, Boutrot F, Grossman G, Zipfel C, Somerville SC (2017) Cellulose-derived oligomers act as damage-associated molecular patterns and trigger defense-like responses.  Plant Physiol 173, 2383-98

• PMB Graduate Student (R Zhang Lab), Danforth Plant Science Fellow; 2017-2023
• Genomics Data Scientist, Bayer Crop Science; 2023-current

Education:  B.S. Biological Sciences, Cornell U. (2017)

Thesis:  Understanding thermotolerance in photosynthetic cells:  from green algae to land plants

Publications:

Zhang N, Venn B, Bailey CE, Xia M, Mattoon EM, Mühlhaus T, Zhang R (2024) Moderate high temperature is beneficial or detrimental depending on carbon availability in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.  J Exp Bot 75, 979-1003

Knoshaug EP, Sun P, Nag A, Nguyen H, Mattoon EM, Zhang N, Liu J, Chen C, Cheng J, Zhang R, St John P, Umen J (2023) Identification and preliminary characterization of conserved uncharacterized proteins from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Arabidopsis thaliana, and Setaria viridis.  Plant Direct 7, e527

Mattoon EM, McHargue W, Bailey CE, Zhang N, Chen C, Eckhardt J, Daum CG, Zane M, Pennacchio C, Schmutz J, O’Malley RC, Cheng J, Zhang R (2023) High-throughput identification of novel heat tolerance genes via genome-wide pooled mutant screens in the model green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.  Plant Cell Environ 46, 865-88

Zhang N, Mattoon EM, McHargue W, Venn B, Zimmer D, Pecani K, Jeong J, Anderson CM, Chen C, Berry JC, Xia M, Tzeng SC, Becker E, Pazouki L, Evans B, Cross F, Cheng J, Czymmek KJ, Schroda M, Muehlhaus T, Zhang R (2022) Systems-wide analysis revealed shared and unique responses to moderate and acute high temperatures in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.  Commun Biol 5, 460

Zhang N, Pazouki L, Nguyen H, Jacobshagen S, Bigge BM, Xia M, Mattoon EM, Klebanovych A, Sorkin M, Nusinow DA, Avasthi P, Czymmek KJ, Zhang R (2022) Comparative phenotyping of two commonly used Chlamydomonas reinhardtii background strains: CC-1690 (21gr) and CC-5325 (The CLiP mutant library background).  Plants 11, 585

Anderson CM, Mattoon EM, Zhang N, Becker E, McHargue W, Yang J, Patel D, Dautermann O, McAdam SAM, Tarin T, Pathak S, Avenson TJ, Berry J, Braud M, Niyogi KK, Wilson M, Nusinow DA, Vargas R, Czymmek KJ, Eveland AL, Zhang R (2021) High light and temperature reduce photosynthetic efficiency through different mechanisms in the C4 model Setaria viridis.  Commun Biol 4, 1092

Harkess A, McLoughlin F, Bilkey N, Elliott K, Emenecker R, Mattoon E, Miller K, Czymmek K, Vierstra R, Meyers BC, Michael TP (2021)  An improved Spirodela polyrhiza genome and proteomic analyses reveal a conserved chromosomal structure with high abundances of chloroplastic proteins favoring energy production.  J Exp Bot 72, 2491-500

• PB Graduate Student (Kunkel Lab), Gates Millennium Scholar; 2009-2016
• Director of Biology, Chicago Art Institute School; 2017-2019
• Postdoc, Greenberg Lab, U. Chicago; 2019-2021
• Associate Consultant, Oracle; 2021-current

Education:  B.S. Biology, St. Louis U. (2009)

Thesis:  Investigating Auxin Biosynthesis and its Contribution to Virulence by Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000

Publications:

Zhang K, Lee JS, Liu R, Chan ZT, Dawson TJ, De Togni ES, Edwards CT, Eng IK, Gao AR, Goicouria LA, Hall EM, Hu KA, Huang L, Kizhner A, Kodama KC, Lin AZ, Liu JY, Lu AY, Peng OW, Ryu EP, Shi S, Sorkin ML, Walker PL, Wang GJ, Xu MC, Yang RS, Cascella B, Cruz W, Holland CK, McClerklin SA, Kunkel BN, Lee SG, Jez JM (2020) Investigating the reaction and substrate preference of indole-3-acetaldehyde dehydrogenase from the plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae PtoDC3000.  Biosci Rep 40, BSR20202959

Lee SG, Harline K, Abar O, Akadri SO, Bastian AG, Chen HY, Duan M, Focht CM, Groziak AR, Kao J, Kottapalli JS, Leong MC, Lin JJ, Liu R, Luo JO, Meyer CM, Mo AF, Pahgn SH, Penna V, Raciti CD, Srinath A, Sudhakur S, Tang JD, Cox BR, Holland CK, Cascella B, Cruz W, McClerklin SA, Kunkel BN, Jez JM (2020) The plant pathogen enzyme AldC is a long-chain aliphatic aldehyde dehydrogenase.  J Biol Chem 295, 13914-26

McClerklin S*, Lee SG*, Harper CP, Nwumeh R, Jez JM, Kunkel BN (2017) Indole-3-acetaldehyde dehydrogenase-dependent auxin synthesis contributes to virulence of Pseudomonas syringae strain DC3000.  PLoS Pathogens 14, e1006811

Tulin A, McClerklin S, Huang Y, Dixit R (2012) Single-molecule analysis of the microtubule cross-linking protein MAP65-1 reveals a molecular mechanism for contact-angle-dependent microtubule bundling.  Biophys J 102, 802-9

• PMB Graduate Student (Haswell Lab), NSF Graduate Research Fellow, Danforth Plant Science Fellow, ASPB Conviron Scholar; 2017-2022
• Investment Associate, BioGenerator; 2022-current

Education:  B.S. Biology, Truman State U. (2017)

Thesis:  Insights into the Non-Osmoregulatory Function of a Pollen-Specific Mechanosensitive Ion Channel

Activities:  GradCast; Biotechnology and LIfe Sciences Advising Group (BALSA)

Publication:

Flynn AJ, Miller K, Codjoe JM, King MR, Haswell ES (2023) Mechanosensitive ion channels MSL8, MSL9, and MSL10 have environmentally sensitive intrinsically disordered regions with distinct biophysical characteristics in vitro.  Plant Direct 7, e515

Miller K, Strychalski W, Nickaeen M, Carlsson A, Haswell ES (2022) In vitro experiments and kinetic models of Arabidopsis pollen hydration mechanics show that MSL8 is not a simple tension-gated osmoregulator.  Curr Biol 32, 2921-34

Wang Y, Coomey J, Miller K, Jensen GS, Haswell ES (2022) Interactions between a mechanosensitive channel and cell wall integrity signaling influence pollen germination in Arabidopsis thaliana.  J Exp Bot 73, 1533-45

Codjoe JM, Miller K, Haswell ES (2022) Plant cell mechanobiology: greater than the sum of its parts.  Plant Cell 34, 129-45

Harkess A, McLoughlin F, Bilkey N, Elliott K, Emenecker R, Mattoon E, Miller K, Czymmek K, Vierstra R, Meyers BC, Michael TP (2021)  An improved Spirodela polyrhiza genome and proteomic analyses reveal a conserved chromosomal structure with high abundances of chloroplastic proteins favoring energy production.  J Exp Bot 72, 2491-500

• PB Graduate Student (Kunkel Lab), NSF Graduate Research Fellow; 2007-2013
• Postdoc, Bart Lab, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO; 2013-2016
• Scientist, Elemental Enzymes, St. Louis, MO; 2016-current

Education:  B.S. Biology, Valparaiso U. (2007)

Thesis:  Roles of Auxin in Pseudomonas syringe Pathogenesis

Activities:  Biotechnology and Life Science Advising Group (BALSA)

Publications:

Prigge MJ, Greenham K, Zhang Y, Santner A, Castillejo C, Mutka AM, O’Malley RC, Ecker JR, Kunkel BN, Estelle M (2016) The Arabidopsis auxin receptor F-box proteins AFB4 and AFB5 are required for response to the synthetic auxin picloram.  G3 6, 1383-90

Mutka AM, Fawley S, Tsao T, Kunkel BN (2013) Auxin promotes susceptibility to Pseudomonas syringae via a mechanism independent of suppression of salicylic acid-mediated defenses.  Plant J 74, 746-54

• PMB Graduate Student (Pakrasi Lab), Gates Millennium Scholar, NSF Graduate Research Fellow; 2011-2016
• Biologist, Presidential Management Fellow, US Environmental Protection Agency; 2016-current

Education:  B.S. Genetics & Plant Biology, U. California – Berkeley (2011)

Thesis:  Use of Proteomics to Probe Dynamic Changes in Cyanobacteria

Activities:  Washington University in St. Louis Graduate Students Promoting Science Policy, Education, and Research (ProSPER); Biotechnology and Life Science Advising Group (BALSA), American Society for Cell Biology/Keck Graduate Institute Managing Science in the Biotech Industry course

Publications:

Nagarajan A, Zhou M, Nguyen AY, Liberton M, Kedia K, Shi T, Piehowski P, Shukla A, Fillmore TL, Nicora C, Smith RD, Koppenaal DW, Jacobs JM, Pakrasi HB (2019) Proteomic insights into phycobilisome degradation, a selective and tightly controlled process in the fast-growing cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus UTEX2973.  Biomolecules 9, 374

Murton J, Nagarajan A, Nguyen AY, Liberton M, Hancock HA, Pakrasi HB, Timlin JA (2017) Population-level coordination of pigment response in individual cyanobacterial cells under altered nitrogen conditions.  Photosynth Res 134, 165-74

Nguyen AY, Bricker WP, Zhang H, Weisz DA, Gross ML, Pakrasi HB (2017) The proteolysis adaptor, NblA, binds to the N-terminus of β-phycocyanin:  implications for the mechanism of phycobilisome degradation.  Photosynth Res 132, 95-106

Ooi LC, Low ET, Abdullah MO, Nookiah R, Ting NC, Nagappan J, Manaf MA, Chan KL, Halim MA, Azizi N, Omar W, Murad AJ, Lakey N, Ordway JM, Favello A, Budiman MA, Van Brunt A, Beil M, Leininger MT, Jiang N, Smith SW, Brown CR, Kuek AC, Bahrain S, Hoynes-O’Connor A, Nguyen AY, Chaudhari HG, Shah SA, Choo YM, Sambanthamurthi R, Singh R (2016) Non-tenera contamination and the economic impact of SHELL genetic testing in the Malaysian independent oil palm industry.  Front Plant Sci 7, 771

Liberton M, Saha R, Jacobs JM, Nguyen AY, Gritsenko MA, Smith RD, Koppenaal DW, Pakrasi HB (2016) Global proteomic analysis reveals an exclusive role of thylakoid membranes in bioenergetics of a model cyanobacterium. Mol Cell Proteomics 5, 2021-32

Nguyen AY*, Guo J*, Dai Z, Su D, Gaffrey MJ, Moore RJ, Jacobs JM, Monroe ME, Smith RD, Koppenaal DW, Pakrasi HB, Qian WJ (2014) Proteome-wide light/dark modulation of thiol oxidation in cyanobacteria revealed by quantitative site-specific redox proteomics.  Mol Cell Proteomics 13, 3270-85 (*equal contribution)

Ravilious GE, Nguyen A, Francois JA, Jez JM (2012) Structural basis and evolution of redox regulation in plant adenosine-5′-phosphosulfate kinase.  Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 109, 309-14

• PMB Graduate Student (Nusinow Lab); Initiative for Maximizing Student Development Scholar; 2018-2024

• Postdoc, Shahan Lab, UCLA; 2024-current

Education:  B.S. Biology, Loyola Marymount U. (2018)

Thesis:   Investigation of PCH1’s role in PhyB-photobody biogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana

Activities:  President, WUSTL Chapter of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS); Continuing Mentor, Young Scientist Program (YSP); Graduate Resource Corps member, WUSTL DENEB STARS Program

Publication:

Pardi SA, Nusinow DA (2021) Out of the dark and into the light: a new view of phytochrome photo bodies.  Front Plant Sci 12, 1843

• PMB Graduate Student (Bart Lab), NSF Graduate Research Fellow, Danforth Plant Science Fellow; 2014-2019
• Scientist, New Leaf Symbiotics; 2019-current

Education:  B.S. Biology, Georgia College & State U. (2014)

Thesis:  Phylogenetic and genomic characterization of the host-pathogen arms race between bacterial pathogens and Gossypium hirsutum

Activities:  Girls STEAM Ahead – class leader; Committee for Scientific Training & Mentoring – co-chair; summer intern – New Leaf Symbiotics

Publications:

Gowda SA, Shrestha N, Harris TM, Phillips AZ, Fang H, Sood S, Zhang K, Bourland F, Bart R, Kuraparthy V (2022) Identification and genomic characterization of major effect bacterial blight resistance locus (BB-13) in Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Theor Appl Genet 135, 4421-36

Yang B, Li M, Phillips A, Li L, Ali U, Li Q, Lu S, Hong Y, Wang X, Guo L (2021) Nonspecific phospholipase C4 hydrolyzes phosphosphingolipids and sustains plant root growth during phosphate deficiency.  Plant Cell 33, 766-80

Phillips AZ, Wheeler T, Woodward J, Bart RS (2018) Pseudomonas syringae pathogen causes foliar disease of upland cotton in Texas.  Plant Disease 102, 1171

Phillips AZ, Berry JC, Wilson MC, Vijayaraghavan A, Burke J, Bunn JI, Allen TW, Wheeler T, Bart RS (2017) Genomics-enabled analysis of the emergent disease cotton bacterial blight. PLoS Genetics 13, e1007003

• PMB Graduate Student (Strader & Jez Labs), Danforth Plant Science Fellow, NSF Graduate Fellowship Honorable Mention; 2014-2019
• Scientist, Benson Hill Biosystems; 2019-current

Education:  B.S. Biology, Webster U. (2014)

Thesis:  Investigating the Role of Protein Multimerization in Auxin Response Factor (ARF) Transcription Factor Activity

Actvities:  Genome Engineering Internship – Monsanto

Publications:

Jing H, Korasick DA, Emenecker RJ, Morffy N, Wilkinson EG, Powers SK, Strader LC (2022) Regulation of AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR condensation and nucleo-cytoplasmic partitioning. Nat Commun 13, 4015

Lee SG, Chung MS, DeMarsilis AJ, Holland CK, Jaswaney RV, Jiang C, Kroboth JHP, Kulshrestha K, Marcelo RZW, Meyyappa VM, Nelson GB, Patel JK, Petronio AJ, Powers SK, Qin PR, Ramachandran M, Rayapati D, Rincon JA, Rocha A, Rodinho Nunes Ferreira JG, Steinbrecher MK, Yao K, Zhang EJ, Zou AJ, Gang M, Sparks M, Cascella B, Cruz W, Jez JM (2020) Structural and biochemical analysis of phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase from the pine wilt nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus.  Mol Biochem Parasitol 238, 111291

Powers SK, Strader LC (2020) Regulation of auxin transcriptional responses.  Dev Dyn 249, 483-95

Powers SK, Holehouse AS, Korasick DA, Schreiber KH, Clark NM, Jing H, Emenecker R, Han S, Tycksen E, Hwang I, Sozzani R, Jez JM, Pappu RV, Strader LC (2019) Nucleo-cytoplasmic partitioning of ARF proteins controls auxin responses in Arabidopsis thaliana.  Mol Cell 76, 177-90

Michniewicz M, Ho CH, Enders TA, Floro E, Damodoran S, Gunther LK, Powers SK, Frick EM, Topp CN, Frommer WB, Strader LC (2019) Transporter of IBA1 links auxin and cytokinin to influence root architecture.  Dev Cell 50, 599-609

Powers SK, Strader LC (2016) Up in the air: untethered factors of auxin response.  F1000Res 3, 5

Michniewicz M, Powers SK, Strader LC (2014) IBA transport by PDR proteins.  In Plant ABC Transporters (M. Geisler, Ed) pp 313-331, Springer Publishing, Switzerland

• PMB Graduate Student (Blodgett Lab); 2014-2021
• Postdoctoral Research Associate, USDA-ARS, New Orleans, LA; 2021-current

Education:  B.A. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston U. (2013)

Thesis:  Genetic Variations in the Regulation and Biosynthesis of Polycyclic Tetramate Macrolactams

Publications:

Lee CY, Harper CP, Lee SG, Qi Y, Clay T, Aoi Y, Jez JM, Kasahara H, Blodgett JAV, Kunkel BN (2024) Investigating the biosynthesis and roles of the auxin phenylacetic acid during Pseudomonas syringae-Arabidopsis thaliana pathogenesis.  Front Plant Sci 15, 1408833

Harper CP, Day A, Tsingos M, Ding E, Zeng E, Stumpf SD, Qi Y, Robinson A, Greif J, Blodgett JAV (2024) Critical analysis of polycyclic tetramate macrolactam biosynthetic gene cluster phylogeny and functional diversity.  Appl Environ Microbiol 90, e0060024

Li C, Hu Y, Wu X, Stumpf SD, Qi Y, D’Alessandro JM, Nepal KK, Sarotti AM, Cao S, Blodgett JAV (2022) Discovery of unusual dimeric piperazyl cyclopeptides encoded by a Lentzea flaviverrucosa DSM 44664 biosynthetic supercluster.  Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 119, e2117941119

Yang J, Qi Y, Blodgett JAV, Wencewicz TA (2022) Multifunctional P450 monooxygenase CftA diversifies the clifednamide pool through tandem C-H bond activations. J Nat Prod 85, 47-55

Qi Y, Nepal KK, Blodgett JAV (2021) A comparative metabologenomic approach reveals mechanistic insights into Streptomyces antibiotic crypticity. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 118, e2103515118

Qi Y, Nepal KK, Greif J, Martini C, Tomlinson C, Markovic C, Fronick C, Blodgett JAV (2020) Draft genome sequences of two polycyclic tetramate macrolactam producers, Streptomyces sp. strains JV180 and SP18CM02.  Microbiol Resour Announc 9, e01066-20

Qi Y*, Hu Y*,Stumpf S, D’Alessandro JM, Blodgett JAV (2019) Bioinformatic and functional evaluation of actinobacterial piperazate metabolism.  ACS Chem Biol 14, 696-703

Qi Y, Ding E, Blodgett JAV (2018) Native and engineered clifednamide biosynthesis in mulitple Streptomyces spp.  ACS Synth Biol 16, 357-62

Qi Y, D’Alessandro JM, Blodgett JAV (2018) Draft genome sequence of Streptomyces sp. strain JV178, a producer of clifednamide-type polycyclic tetramate macrolactams.  Genome Announc  6, e01401-17

• PB Graduate Student (Kranz Lab), Olin Biomedical Fellow, NSF Graduate Fellowship Honorable Mention; 2008-2013
• Postdoc & Project Manager, Gerlt Lab, U. Illinois Urbana-Champaign; 2014-2017
• Senior Consultant, Navigant; 2017-current

Education:  B.A. Biology, Washington University in St. Louis (2008)

Thesis:  The System I and System III Holocytochrome c Synthases in Cytochrome c Biogenesis

Publications:

Babbitt SE, Sutherland MC, San Francisco B, Mendez DL, Kranz RG (2015) Mitochondrial cytochrome c biogenesis: no longer an enigma.  Trends Biochem Sci 40, 446-55

Babbitt SE, San Francisco B, Mendez DL, Lukat-Rodgers GS, Rodgers KR, Bretsnyder EC, Kranz RG (2014) Mechanisms of mitochondrial holocytochrome c synthase and the key roles played by cysteines and histidine of the heme attachment site, Cys-XX-Cys-His.  J Biol Chem 289, 28795-807

Babbitt SE, San Francisco B, Bretsnyder EC, Kranz RG (2014) Conserved residues of the human mitochondrial holocytochrome c synthase mediate interactions with heme.  Biochemistry 53, 5261-71

San Francisco B, Kranz RG (2014) Interaction of holoCcmE with CcmF in heme trafficking and cytochrome c biosynthesis.  J Mol Biol 426, 570-85

San Francisco B, Sutherland MC, Kranz RG (2014) The CcmFH complex is the system I holocytochrome c synthetase: engineering cytochrome c maturation independent of CcmABCDE.  Mol Microbiol 91, 996-1008

San Francisco B, Bretsnyder EC, Kranz RG (2013) Human mitochondrial holocytochrome c synthase’s heme binding, maturation determinants, and complex formation with cytochrome c.  Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 110, E788-97

San Francisco B, Bretsnyder EC, Rodgers KR, Kranz RG (2011) Heme ligand identification and redox properties of the cytochrome c synthetase, CcmF.  Biochemistry 50, 10974-85

Richard-Fogal CL, San Francisco B, Frawley ER, Kranz RG (2012) Thiol redox requirements and substrate specificities of recombinant cytochrome c assembly systems II and III.  Biochim Biophys Acta 1817, 911-9

Richard-Fogal CL, Frawley ER, Bonner ER, Zhu H, San Francisco B, Kranz RG (2009) A conserved haem redox and trafficking pathway for cofactor attachment.  EMBO J 28, 2349-59

• PMB Graduate Student (Haswell Lab); Spencer T & Ann W Olin Fellow; Danforth Plant Science Fellow; 2013-2020
• Scientific Technical Editor, AlphaGroup Medical Communications; 2020-current

Education: B.S. Biochemistry, University of Arizona (2013)

Thesis: The role of charged pore-lining residues in function of the Arabidopsis Mechanosensitive Ion Channel MSL1

Activities: PMB Steering Committee Student Representative, Olin Fellowship Conference Planning Committee, BioEntrepreneurship Core IdeaBounce Winner

Publications:

Schlegel AM, Haswell ES (2020) Charged pore-lining residues are required for normal channel kinetics in the eukaryotic mechanosensitive ion channel MSL1.  Channels 14, 310-25

Deng Z, Maksaev G, Schlegel AM, Zhang J, Rau M, Fitzpatrick JAJ, Haswell ES, Yuan P (2020) Structural mechanism for gating of a eukaryotic mechanosensitive channel of small conductance.  Nature Commun 11, 3690

Schlegel AM, Haswell ES (2020) Analyzing plant mechanosensitive ion channels expressed in giant E. coli spheroplasts by single channel patch-clamp electrophysiology. Meth Cell Biol 160, 61-82

Schlegel AM, Haswell ES (2020) Plant biomechanics: no pain, no gain for birch tree stems. Curr Biol 30, R164-6

Bronnimann MP, Calton CM, Chiquette SF, Li S, Lu M, Chapman JA, Bratton KA, Schlegel AM, Campos SK (2016) Furin cleavage of L2 during papillomavirus infection: minimal dependence on cyclophilins. J Virol 90, 6224-34

Hamilton ES, Schlegel AM, Haswell, ES. (2015). United in diversity:  plant mechanosensitive channels.  Annu Rev Plant Biol 66, 113-37

Calton CM, Schlegel AM, Chapman JA, Campos, SK (2013) Human papillomavirus type 16 does not require cathepsins L or B for infection.  J Gen Virol 94, 1865-9

• PB Graduate Student (Jez Lab), NSF Graduate Research Fellow; 2011-2017
• Manager – R&D Operations, Benson Hill; 2018-2023
• Science Delivery Manager, Solis Agrosciences; 2024-current

Education:  B.S. Biological Sciences, Missouri U. of Science & Technology (2011)

Thesis:  Investigating the Role of GH3 Acyl Acid Amido Synthetases in Plant Hormone Homeostasis

Activities:  Monsanto Crop Trait Discovery Breeder Internship

Publications:

Sherp AM, Lee SG, Schraft E, Jez JM (2018) Modification of auxinic phenoxyalkanoid acid herbicides by the acyl acid amido synthetase GH3.15 from Arabidopsis.  J Biol Chem 293, 17731-8

Sherp AM, Westfall CS, Alvarez S, Jez JM (2018) Arabidopsis thaliana GH3.15 acyl acid amido synthetase has a highly specific substrate prefernce for the auxin precursor indole-3-butryic acid.  J Biol Chem 293, 4277-88

Sherp AM*, Westfall CS*, Zubieta C, Alvarez S, Schraft E, Alvarez S, Marcellin R, Ramirez L, Jez JM (2016) Arabidopsis thaliana GH3.5 acyl acid amido synthetase mediates metabolic crosstalk in auxin and salicylic acid homeostasis.  Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 113, 13917-22

Jez JM, Lee SG, Sherp AM (2016) The next green movement: plant biology for the environment and sustatainability.  Science 353, 1241-4

Hamilton ES, Jensen GS, Maksaev G, Katims A, Sherp AM, Haswell ES (2015) Mechanosensitive channel MSL8 regulates osmotic forces during pollen hydration and germination.  Science 350, 438-41

Westfall CS, Muehler AM, Jez JM (2013) Enzyme action in the regulation of plant hormone responses. J Biol Chem 288, 19304-11

• PB Graduate Student (Running Lab); 2007-2016
• Postdoc, Estelle Lab, U. California – San Diego; 2016-2018
• Scientist, Syngenta, Shanghai, PRC, 2019-current

Education:  B.S. Peking U., Beijing, China (2007)

Thesis:  Modifications of Geranylgeranyltransferases in Rab G-proteins

Publications:

Shi W, Zeng Q, Kunkel BN, Running MP (2016) Arabidopsis Rab geranylgeranyltransferases demonstrate redundancy and broad substrate specificity in vitro.  J Biol Chem 291, 1398-410

Shi W, Zeng Q, Running MP (2013) In vitro prenylation assay of Arabidopsis proteins.  Methods Mol Biol 1043, 147-60

Feng X, Shi W, Wang X, Running MP (2013) In vitro myristoylation assay of Arabidopsis proteins.  Methods Mol Biol 1043:135-9

• PMB Graduate Student (Nusinow Lab), NSF Graduate Research Fellow, Catharine M. Lieneman Botany Scholarship, ASPB Conviron Scholar; 2016-2022
• Organism Engineer, Ginko Bioworks, Boston, MA, 2022-current

Education:  B.A. Biology, Kenyon College (2016)

Thesis:  Using proteomics to discover new connections in the plant circadian clock

Activities:  Young Scientist Program (YSP) – Lead, Genetics & Genomics Teaching Team

Publications:

Sorkin ML, Tzeng SC, King S, Romanowski A, Kahle N, Bindbeutel R, Hiltbrunner A, Yanovsky MJ, Evans BS, Nusinow DA (2023) COLD REGULATED GENE 27 and 28 Antagonize the Transcriptional Activity of the RVE8/LNK1/LNK2 Circadian Complex.  Plant Physiol 192, 2436-56

Sorkin ML, Markham KK, Zorich S, Menon A, Edgeworth KN, Ricono A, Bryant D, Bart R, Nusinow DA, Greenham K (2023) Assembly and operation of an imaging system for long-term monitoring of bioluminescent and fluorescent reporters in plants.  Plant Methods 19, 19

Zhang N, Pazouki L, Nguyen H, Jacobshagen S, Bigge BM, Xia M, Mattoon EM, Klebanovych A, Sorkin M, Nusinow DA, Avasthi P, Czymmek KJ, Zhang R (2022) Comparative phenotyping of two commonly used Chlamydomonas reinhardtii background strains: CC-1690 (21gr) and CC-5325 (The CLiP mutant library background).  Plants 11, 585

Sorkin ML, Nusinow DA (2022) Using tandem affinity purification to identify circadian clock protein complexes from Arabidopsis. Methods Mol Biol 2398, 189-203

Sorkin ML, Nusinow DA (2021) Time will tell:  intercellular communication in the plant clock. Trends Plant Sci 26, 706-19

Zhang K, Lee JS, Liu R, Chan ZT, Dawson TJ, De Togni ES, Edwards CT, Eng IK, Gao AR, Goicouria LA, Hall EM, Hu KA, Huang L, Kizhner A, Kodama KC, Lin AZ, Liu JY, Lu AY, Peng OW, Ryu EP, Shi S, Sorkin ML, Walker PL, Wang GJ, Xu MC, Yang RS, Cascella B, Cruz W, Holland CK, McClerklin SA, Kunkel BN, Lee SG, Jez JM (2020) Investigating the reaction and substrate preference of indole-3-acetaldehyde dehydrogenase from the plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae PtoDC3000.  Biosci Rep 40, BSR20202959

Huang H, McLoughlin KE, Sorkin ML, Burgie ES, Bindbeutel RK, Vierstra RD, Nusinow DA (2019) PCH1 regulates light, temperature, and circadian signaling as a structural component of phytochrome B-photobodies in Arabidopsis. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 116, 8603-8

Kim SC, Nusinow DA, Sorkin ML, Pruneda-Paz J, Wang X (2019) Interaction and regulation between lipid mediator phosphatidic acid and circadian clock regulators in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell 31, 399-416

• PMB Graduate Student (Zaher Lab), Monsanto Graduate Fellow, NSF Graduate Fellowship Honorable Mention; 2014-2019
• Consulting Associate – Life Sciences, Charles River Associates, 2019-2022
• Senior Manager, Corporate Development, Agios Pharmaceuticals, 2022-current

Education:  B.S. Molecular Genetics, Ohio State U. (2014)

Thesis:  Investigating the Impact of RNA Modifications and Damage on Translation

Activities:  Biotechnology and Life Science Advising Group (BALSA) – President; PMB Steering Committee Student Representative

Publications:

Thomas EN, Kim KQ, McHugh EP, Marcinkiewicz T, Zaher HS (2020) Alkylative damage of mRNA leads to ribosome stalling and rescue by trans-translation in bacteria.  eLife 9, e61984

Verma M, Choi J, Cottrell KA, Lavagnino Z, Thomas EN, Pavlovic-Djuranovic S, Szczesny P, Piston DW, Zaher HS, Puglisi JD, Djuranovic S (2019) A short translational ramp determines the efficiency of protein synthesis.  Nature Commun 10, 5774

Thomas EN, Simms CL, Keedy HE, Zaher H (2019) Insights into the base pairing preferences of 8-oxoguanosine on the ribosome.  Nucleic Acids Res 47, 9857-70

Thomas EN*, Keedy HE*, Zaher HS (2018) Decoding on the ribosome depends on the structure of the mRNA phosphodiester backbone.  Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 115, E6731-40 (*equal contribution)

Simms CL, Thomas EN, Zaher HS (2017) Ribosome-based quality control of mRNA and nascent peptides.  Wiley Interdiscip Rev RNA 8, e1366

McCue AD, Panda K, Nuthikattu S, Choudury SG, Thomas EN, Slotkin RK (2015) ARGONAUTE 6 bridges transposable element mRNA-derived siRNAs to the establishment of DNA methylation. EMBO J 34, 20-35

Nuthikattu S, McCue AD, Panda K, Fultz D, DeFraia C, Thomas EN, Slotkin RK (2013) The initiation of epigenetic silencing of active transposable elements is triggered by RDR6 and 21-22 nucleotide small interfering RNAs. Plant Physiol 162, 116-31

• PMB Graduate Student (Pakrasi Lab), Bayer Crop Science Graduate Fellow, 2016-2022

• Scientist, Kula Bio, 2023-current

Education:  B.S. Plant Biology, Southern Illinois U. – Carbondale (2016)

Thesis:  Mechanisms of high light tolerance for a fast-growing cyanobacterium

Activities:  Young Scientist Program (YSP); PMB Steering Committee Student Representative; PMB Lunch Organizer

Publications:

Walker PL, Pakrasi HB (2022) A ubiquitously conserved cyanobacterial protein phosphatase essential for high light tolerance in a fast-growing cyanobacterium.  Microbiol Spectr 10, e0100822

Wendt KE, Walker P, Sengupta A, Ungerer J, Pakrasi HB (2022) Engineering natural competence into the fast-growing cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus UTEX 2973. Appl Environ Microbiol 88, e0188221

Zhang K, Lee JS, Liu R, Chan ZT, Dawson TJ, De Togni ES, Edwards CT, Eng IK, Gao AR, Goicouria LA, Hall EM, Hu KA, Huang L, Kizhner A, Kodama KC, Lin AZ, Liu JY, Lu AY, Peng OW, Ryu EP, Shi S, Sorkin ML, Walker PL, Wang GJ, Xu MC, Yang RS, Cascella B, Cruz W, Holland CK, McClerklin SA, Kunkel BN, Lee SG, Jez JM (2020) Investigating the reaction and substrate preference of indole-3-acetaldehyde dehydrogenase from the plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae PtoDC3000.  Biosci Rep 40, BSR20202959

• PMB Graduate Student (Blankenship Lab), Danforth Plant Science Fellow; 2014-2019
• Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer, Engine2Photonics; 2018-current
• Cultivation Manager, Root Cellar Hydroponics; 2020-2021
• Lead Scientist, Pluton Biosciences; 2021-2023
• Greenhouse Manager, Dept of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023-current

Education:  B.S. Plant Biology, Michigan State U. (2014)

Thesis:  Life in the Shadows – Understanding How Specialized Oxygenic Phototrophs Use Far-Red Light

Activities:  BioEntrepreneurship Core (BEC) Secretary and Co-President

Publications:

Kiang NY, Swingley WD, Gautam D, Broddrick JT, Repeta DJ, Stolz JF, Blankenship RE, Wolf BM, Detweiler AM, Miller KA, Schladweiler JJ, Lindeman R, Parenteau MN (2022) Discovery of chlorophyll d:  isolation and characterization of a far-red cyanobacterium from the original site of Manning and Strain (1943) at Moss Beach, California.  Microorganisms 10, 819

Wolf BM, Blankenship RE (2019) Far-red light acclimation in diverse oxygenic photosynthetic organisms.  Photosynth Res 142, 349-59

Lou W, Wolf BM, Blankenship RE, Liu H (2019) Cu+ contributes to the orange carotenoid protein-related phycobilisome fluorescence quenching and photoprotection in cyanobacteria.  Biochemistry 58, 3109-15

Niedzwiedzki DM, Wolf BM, Blankenship RE (2019) Excitation energy transfer in the far-red absorbing violaxanthin/vaucheriaxanthin chlorophyll a complex from the eustigmatophyte alga FP5.  Photosynth Res 140, 337-54

Wolf BM, Niedzwiedzki DM, Magdaong NCM, Roth R, Goodenough U, Blankenship RE (2017) Characterization of a newly isolated freshwater Eustigmatophyte alga capable of utilizing far-red light as its sole light source.  Photosynth Res 135, 177-89

Liu H, Lu Y, Wolf B, Saer R, King JD, Blankenship RE (2017) Photoactivation and relaxation studies on the cyanobacterial orange carotenoid protein in the presence of copper ion.  Phytosynth Res 135, 143-7

Majumder EL, Wolf BM, Liu H, Berg RH, Timlin JA, Chen M, Blankenship RE (2017) Subcellular pigment distribution is altered under far-red light acclimation in cyanobacteria that contrain chlorophyll f.  Photosynth Res 134, 183-92

• PMB Graduate Student (Zaher Lab); 2014-2021
• Jane Coffin Childs Postdoctoral Fellow, Kostova Lab, Carnegie Institution for Science, Dept. of Embryology, Baltimore, MD; 2021-current

Education:  B.S. Soil Sciences, Beijing Forestry U. (2009); B.S. Crop Sciences, Michigan State U. (2009); M.S. Plant Pathology, Michigan State U. (2011)

Thesis:  Chemical Damage to mRNA and its Impact on Ribosome Quality-Control and Stress-Response Pathways in Eukaroytic Cells

Publications:

Urs AN, Lasehinde V, Kim L, McDonald E, Yan LL, Zaher HS (2024) Inability to rescue stalled ribosomes results in over activation of the integrated stress response. J Biol Chem 300, 107290

Crawford JM, Yan LL, Zaher H, Hardy RW (2022) Host-dependent modifications of packaged alphavirus genomic RNA influence virus replication in mammalian cells.  Viruses 14, 2606

Kim KQ, Burgute BD, Tzeng SC, Jing C, Jungers C, Zhang J, Yan LL, Vierstra RD, Djuranovic S, Evans BS, Zaher HS (2022) N1-methylpseudouridine found within COVID-19 mRNA vaccines produces faithful protein products.  Cell Rep 40, 111300

Yan LL, Zaher HS (2021) Ribosome-quality control antagonizes the activation of the integrated-stress response on colliding ribosomes.  Mol Cell 81, 614-28

Yan LL, Simms CL, McLoughlin F, Vierstra RD, Zaher HS (2019) Oxidation and alkylation stresses activate ribosome-quality control.  Nature Commun 10, 5611

Yan LL, Zaher HS (2019) How do cells cope with RNA damage and its consequences?  J Biol Chem 294, 15158-71

Simms CL, Yan LL, Qiu JK, Zaher HS (2019) Ribosome collisions result in +1 frameshifting in the absence of no-go decay.  Cell Rep 28, 1679-89

Yan LL, Zaher HS (2019) Ubiquitin –  a beacon for all during quality control of the ribosome.  EMBO J 38, e101633

Simms CL, Kim KQ, Yan LL, Qiu J, Zaher HS (2018) Interactions between the mRNA and Rps3/uS3 at the entry tunnel of the ribosome small unit are important for no-go decay.  PLoS Genetics 14, e1007818

Hays SG, Yan LL, Silver PA, Ducat DA (2017) Synthetic photosynthetic consortia define interactions leading to robustness and photoproduction.  J Biol Engr 11, 4

Simms CL, Yan LL, Zaher HS (2017) Ribosome collision is critical for quality control during no-go decay.  Mol Cell 68, 361-73

Giordano PR, Vargas JM, Detweiler AR, Dykema NM, Yan LL (2010) First report of a bacterial disease on creeping bent grass (Agrostis stolonoifera) caused by Acidovorax spp. in the United States.  Plant Disease 94, 922

• PB Graduate Student (Dixit Lab), McDonnell International Scholar, Monsanto Company/Normal Borlaug Corporate Fellow, Imaging Science Pathway Fellow; 2008-2014
• Postdoc, Kellogg Lab, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center; 2015-2018
• Molecular Biology Scientist, Centro de Tecnologia Canavieira; 2018-2020
• Scientist, Bayer Crop Science; 2020-2023
• Managing Partner, Premier Strategy Consulting, 2023-present

Education:  B.A. Biology, Tsinghua U., Beijing, China (2008)

Thesis:  Mechanisms for the Function and Regulation of Arabidopsis FRA1 Kinesin During Cell Wall Formation

Publications:

Ganguly A, Zhu C, Chen W, Dixit R (2020) FRA1 kinesin modulates the lateral stability of cortical microtubules through cellulose synthase-microtubule uncoupling protein.  Plant Cell 32, 2508-24

Ganguly A, DeMott L, Zhu C, McClosky DD, Anderson CT, Dixit R (2018) Importin-beta directly regulates the motor activity and turnover of a kinesin-4.  Dev Cell 44, 642-51

Zhu C, Ganguly A, Baskin TI, McClosky DD, Anderson CT, Foster C, Meunier KA, Okamoto R, Berg H, Dixit R (2015) The fragile Fiber1 kinesin contributes to cortical microtubule-mediated trafficking of cell wall components.  Plant Physiol 167, 780-92

Zhu C, Dixit R (2012) Functions of the Arabidopsis kinesin superfamily of microtubule-based motor proteins.  Protoplasma 249, 887-99

Zhu C, Dixit R (2011) Single molecule analysis of the Arabidopsis FRA1 kinesin shows that it is a functional motor protein with unusually high processivity.  Mol Plant 4, 879-85

Sun F, Zhu C, Dixit R, Cavalli V (2011) Sunday Driver/JIP3 binds kinesin heavy chain directly and enhances its motility.  EMBO J 30, 3416-29

Lei M, Zhu C, Liu Y, Karthikeyan AS, Bressan RA, Raghothama KG, Liu D (2011) Ethylene signalling is involved in regulation of phosphate starvation-induced gene expression and production of acid phosphatases and anthocyanin in Arabidopsis.  New Phytol 189, 1084-95

Zhu C*, Schroeder AC*, Yanamadala SR*, Cahoon RE, Arkus KA, Wachsstock L, Bleeke J, Krishnan HB, Jez JM (2010) Threonine-insensitive homoserine dehydrogenase from soybean: genomic organization, kinetic mechanism, and in vivo activity.  J Biol Chem 285, 827-34 (*equal contribution)

• PMB Graduate Student (Stallings Lab); 2016-2023

• Postdoctoral Fellow, Storz Lab, NIH; 2023-current

Education:  B.S. Biochemistry, U. Missouri-Columbia (2016)

Thesis:  Mechanisms of Transcription Regulation of CarD in Mycobacterium

Activities:  President, WU Promoting Science Policy, Education, and Research (ProSPER); 2018 American Institute for Biological Sciences Congressional Visits Day

Publications:

Zhu DX, Stallings CL (2023) Transcription regulation by CarD in mycobacteria is guided by basal promoter kinetics.  J Biol Chem 299, 104724

Prusa J, Zhu DX, Flynn AJ, Jensen D, Manzano AR, Galburt EA, Stallings CL (2022) Molecular dissection of RbpA-mediated regulation of fidaxomicin sensitivity in mycobacteria. J Biol Chem 298, 101752

Kinsella RL, Zhu DX, Harrison GA, Mayer Bridwell AE, Prusa J, Chavez SM, Stallings CL (2021) Perspectives and advances in the understanding of tuberculosis.  Annu Rev Pathol 16, 377-408

Zhu DX, Garner AL, Galburt EA, Stallings CL (2019) CarD contributes to diverse gene expression outcomes throughout the genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.  Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 116, 13573-81

Flentie K, Harrison GA, Tukenmez H, Livny J, Good JAD, Sarkar S, Zhu DX, Kinsella RL, Weiss LA, Solomon SD, Schene ME, Hansen MR, Cairns AG, Kulen M, Wixe T, Lindgren AEG, Chorell E, Bengtsson C, Krishnan KS, Hultgren SJ, Larsson C, Almqvist F, Stallings CL (2019) Chemical disarming of isoniazid restistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.  Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 116, 10510-7

Prusa J, Zhu DX, Stallings CL (2018) The stringent response and Mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogensis.  Pathog Dis 76, fty054

Haynsen MS, Vatanparast M, Mahadwar G, Zhu D, Moger-Reischer RZ, Doyle JJ, Crandall KA, Egan AH (2018) De novo transcriptome assembly of Pueraria montana var. lobata and Neustanthus phaseoloides for the development of eSSR and SNP markers:  narrowing the US origin(s) of the invasive kudzu.  BMC Genomics 19, 439