This work represents a comparitive computational analysis of the dynamics of the interactions between homodimerized and monomeric abscisic acid receptors and their ligand, the phytohormone abscisic acid.
The Lab is Pleased to Welcome Dr. Leann Buhrow
We are pleased to have Dr. Leann Buhrow join our group as a research associate as of June 2013. Leann comes to us from Michigan State University, where she recently earned her PhD in Computational Biology and Biophysics. Leann will be working with Cameron Gordon on investigations of the role of phytohormones in susceptibility of wheat to Fusarium Head Blight. Leann is supported by the Canadian Wheat Alliance, Resilient Wheat Flagship program.
Welcome Back Fraser!
The lab is pleased to welcome Fraser Ball back for summer 2013. Coming to us again from the U Vic Coop program, Fraser is working with Dr. Kishore Rajagopalan on functional characterization of wheat rust resistant proteins, with a focus on ABC transporters. Fraser is funded by the Canadian Wheat Alliance, Resilient Wheat Flagship Program .
New Graduate Student – Ms. Khanh Luu
We are pleased to welcome Khanh Luu to the lab. Khanh is a new graduate student at the University of Saskatchewan, coming to us from Vietnam, via the USA and Australia. She is a student through the WCVM, Dept of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences. Her project is on the structure-function characterization of select anion channels involved in mediating the deposition of fusarium head blight toxin in wheat, which if fed as feed, has negative effects on livestock . Her project is a collaboration between the labs of Dr. Sister (Michele) Loewen and Dr. Brother (Matthew) Loewen, as Khanh has taken to calling us. This work is funded by individual NSERC discovery grants to both Brother and Sister Loewen.
New Publication – Loewen et al., 2013
Peter C. Loewen, Allison L. Didychuk, Jacek Switala, Rosa Perez-Luque, Ignatio Fita Michele C. Loewen (2013) Structure of Pisum Sativum Rubisco with bound ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate Acta Crystallographica F 69:10-14. [PDF]
This work represents an unfunded project that has been in progress for more than a decade. We hope to follow it up shortly with something a little more intriguing, but on this same topic.
New Crystal Structure – 4HHH
We recently deposited a new structure for Pisum sativum (a.k.a. garden pea) rubisco bound to its substrate ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate. The structure can be accessed through the RCSB database under PDBID 4HHH.
New Patent – Abrams et al. 2012
Our work on the development of Abscisic Acid (ABA) biosynthetic inhibitors based was finally accepted by the United States Patent Office. It was based on the rational design of a small molecule to fit and stick into the primary biosynthetic 9-cis expoxycarotenoid diogenase enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of ABA in planta. This is related to our previous publication Boyd et al., 2009.
The Lab is Pleased to Welcome Fraser Ball
Fraser is a student in the University of Victoria Cooperative program in Microbiology and Biochemistry. His summer position in our lab is funded by the NRC wheat flagship. He will be working with Cameron Gordon on deciphering the role of abscisic acid in the modulation of wheat diseases.
Khorana Memorial – MIT April 1 2012
What a great time! Gobind would have loved it. Here is Michele back in the old ‘tea room’ late at night with old friends in building 68. From left to right – Nico (Ghent), John (Yale), Caroline (MIT), Michele (NRC), Elena (MGH Boston), Phil (U of Essex), Li (U Albani).
https://biology.mit.edu/events/h_gobind_khorana_memorial
Gobind’s Favorite Excerpt:
We must be still and still moving
Into another intensity
For a further union, a deeper communion
Through the dark cold and empty desolation
The wave cry, the wind cry, the vast waters
Of the petrel and the porpoise. In my end is my beginning.
– T.S. Eliot
Gobind’s Publication Statistics:
600+ papers
35880 citations
h-factor 101
Welcome Back Cameron!
We are pleased to announce that Cameron Gordon has returned to the lab as of February 2012 to work on a Master’s Degree in Biochemistry. Cameron previously worked with us as a 4th year project student on fungal pheromone receptors and will be shifting to now focus on wheat phytohormone receptors.
