Jan Jaworski, Ph.D., Biochemistry, Purdue University
Joe Jez, Ph.D., Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania
Oilseeds as chemical factories: Seeds are a plant’s storage organ. They accumulate oil to provide the energy and carbon necessary for a germinating seed to grow into a plant. A major focus of the Jaworski lab to explore the capacity of seeds to accumulate useful molecules that can serve as the next generation of biofuels as well as for industrial applications. Using biotechnology to reprogram seed metabolism, the Jaworski lab focuses on understanding how pathways involved in plant lipid synthesis can be manipulated. This past year has seen a major focus on the study of oil synthesis in Camelina sativa. Research supported by the National Biodiesel Board and DOE is helping us understand how we can manipulate seeds to produce more oil by altering the regulation of oil synthesis. As part of the new DOE CABS grant, we are participating in the Danforth Center’s collaborative effort to enhance the production of biofuels.
Toward a healthier environment: plants, nematodes, and human disease. The environment plays a major role in human health. Nearly a quarter of diseases and premature deaths are attributable to environmental factors, especially in less developed regions of the world. Globally, the contamination of soil and water resources by toxic metals is a problem that grows as the demand for usable land and potable water increases. Similarly, parasites cause a range of health, veterinary, and agricultural problems. Research in the Jez lab employs a combination of structural, molecular, and cellular methods to understand heavy metal detoxifi cation in plants and to explore new metabolic pathways in nematodes. Deciphering how plants protect themselves against toxic metals, such as cadmium, mercury, arsenic, and lead forms the foundation for engineering the inherent chemistry of plants to deliver a healthier environment. Likewise, exploring new pathways not found in host organisms may lead to the development of nematicides with target specifi city and minimal side effects.
Updates from our Scientists
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