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Having a gas with science at the UT-Knoxville since 2008 Office: 343 Hesler Biology Building (865) 974-7994 Lab: 106 Hesler Biology Building (865) 974-7997
Dept.
of Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology |
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Publications | Lab Members | Lab Photos | Former Lab Members | Collaborations |
Ethylene is a plant hormone that influences many developmental and
physiological processes in plants such as growth, senescence,
abscission, fruit ripening, and responses to stresses. It is the basis
of the saying one bad apple spoils the bunch because of its role in fruit
ripening. Research in this lab
focuses on ethylene signal transduction with a major focus on
understanding the roles and functions of the receptors for ethylene in
plants as well as how ethylene receptors function in bacteria. We
combine imaging techniques with biochemistry, molecular biology,
computational and mathematical modeling, and genetics to unravel the
complexities of ethylene signaling. There are several aspects of
ethylene signaling we interested in.
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Structure-Function of the Ethylene Binding
Domain |
Ethylene Growth
Response Kinetics and Signaling Network Toplogies A second area is to uncover new details about the ethylene signal transduction pathway downstream of the receptors. We use a computer-driven, time-lapse image acquisition system to study the kinetics of growth changes in etiolated seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana. This method has revealed transient and subtle changes due to ethylene that would have otherwise remained unknown (list of lab papers using this technique). Combining this approach with genetics and molecular biology has refined our understanding about ethylene receptor function and down-stream signal transduction components and has provided links between events at the molecular level with those at the organ level. In particular, there appear to be two phases to the ethylene response which can be genetically and pharmacologically distinguished. The second, slower phase response to ethylene is dependent on the EIN3 and EIL1 transcription factors. In contrast, the events leading to the first phase response remain unknown. In collaboration with the lab of Steve Abel, we have mathematically modeled several network topologies to obtain a more refined understanding about how the pathway works and to make predictions about various pathway components (Prescott et al., 2016). We continue to uncover more details about the basis for the two phases of growth inhibition as well as develop more comprehensive network models to explain these properties. For more information refer to: Binder et al., 2004; Binder et al., 2004; Kim et al., 2011; Kim et al., 2012; Binder et al. 2018, Park, 2023. |
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Sub-functionalization of
Ethylene Receptor Isoforms and Non-Canonical Signaling |
Long-lasting Ethylene Priming on Growth and Stress Tolerance While screeing mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana we made the unexpected discovery that under certain conditions the seedlings transiently treated with ethylene grew much larger and were more tolerant to abioic stress. This priming effect is seen in multiple plant species (Brenya et al., 2023). We are now determining the mechanism and signaling pathways involved in this. This research has been covered in various press venues: [Anthropocene] [The Conversation] [SCIENMAG] |
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Ethylene Receptors in Non-plant Species It is believed that plants acquired ethylene receptors during the endosymbiotic event that led to chloroplasts. It is still unknown which organism(s) initially evolved ethylene receptors. We are now studying putative ethylene receptors in various bacteria. We have shown that the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803 contains a functional ethylene receptor (SynEtr1) that is involved in controlling various physiological processes such as phototaxis and biofilm formation. For instance, disruption of SynEtr1 leads to much faster phototaxis. This signaling pathway seems to have a role in modulating the extracellular surface of the bacterium. SynEtr1 also contains a phytochrome-like domain and has been shown to be a functional light receptor. Thus, SynEtr1 is a bifunctional receptor for both light and ethylene. We are now exploring the mechanism of ethylene signaling by SynEtr1 and characterizing putative ethylene receptors from other microbes. For more information refer to: Rodriguez et al., 1999; Wang et al., 2006; Lacey and Binder, 2016; Henry et al., 2017; Lacey et al. 2018; Papon and Binder, 2019; Allen et al. 2019; Bidon et al. 2020; and Carlew et al. 2020. |
Funding for this research has largely been provided by the National Science Foundation and USDA-NSF NIFA
Research Opportunities:
Interested in:
studying signal transduction? Receptor-ligand interactions? Independent
research? Working on a gas?
Contact me about research opportunities in my lab (Contact Dr. Binder).
Outreach:
We
have built A
Mobile Teaching Resource for Ethylene Kinetics
(AMTREK) that can travel to science classrooms. Follow the link to find out
more.
Contact Dr. Binder if you
want to arrange for this to be used by your students.
Some interesting, diverse, sometimes useful, and weird links:
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And, now for something different... |
Humor (or what passes for humor) and entertainment... |
Last
Updated
October 2024