An indispensable, but perplexing model: auxin metabolism and signaling in Arabidopsis.

RESEARCH FOCUS

• Processes that control the movement of the phytohormone auxin to regulate programmed and plastic plant development
• Mechanistic function of ATP Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters
• Dynamics of substrate interactions with transport proteins and their lipid environment
• Integration of light and gravity responses and modification of auxin fluxes by environemtnal stress.
• Interactions of plant defence and developmental signalling

Biography:

Research in the lab is focused on the processes that control the movement of the phytohormone auxin to regulate programmed and plastic plant development. Much of the work focuses on how those processes respond to environmental inputs and stress. Current efforts involve integration of light and gravity responses and modification of auxin fluxes by biotic and abiotic stressors. The lab also studies the transport of other aromatic acids that function in plant / fungal growth processes. We use the tools of structural biology, modeling, biochemistry, cell biology, comparative systems biology, and molecular genetics in our work.

Contact

  Seongchan Kang
  sxk55@psu.edu