People
Principle Investigator
Bio
Anemia induced by iron deficiency is one of the most prevalent nutritional disorders in the world. Most people obtain nutritional iron predominantly from plants. Our research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that plants use to uptake, transport, and utilize iron, and respond to low iron conditions.
We use genomics, molecular biology and genetics to identify root-specific transcriptional responses that regulate physiological alterations associated with iron deprivation in the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. Our work resulted in the first whole-genome, high-resolution transcriptional profile of iron deficiency in the root, and led to the identification of two regulatory genes that play a key role in how plants respond to low iron conditions.
Our continued efforts are focused on identifying additional iron deficiency response regulators and their corresponding gene targets, with the long-term goal of elucidating gene regulatory networks involved in plant iron homeostasis. Ultimately, this information may lead to the generation of crops with increased nutritional content and increased yield when grown in poor soils.
Area(s) of Expertise
Molecular Biology of Plant Nutritional Homeostasis
Contact Us
919.513.2191
Current Lab Members
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Former Lab Members
- Durreshahwar Muhammad
- Imani Madison
- Hsuan (Tina) Chou, Postdoc, NCSU
- Jabeen Ahmad, Technician
- Dr. Devarshi Selote, Research Associate, NCSU
- Dr. Jeffrey Gillikin, Research Associate, NCSU
- Dr. Anna Matthiadis, Postdoc, Oak Ridge National Laboratories
- Dr. Roalynne Samira, Postdoc, NCSU
Former NC State Undergraduates
- Christopher “Reece” Taylor
- Jackson Cooper
- Alienor Helund
- Chloe Alexander
- Logan Kallum
- Kyle Fahey
- Natalie Mills
- Amber Long
- Blake Oakley
- Nyd Sertsuvalkul
- Megan Guadagnino
- Selena McCoy
- Daniel Schmitt
- Kimberly Shearer
- Megan Williamson
- Jacob Thompson