Dean DellaPenna
Professor
  • B.S. 1984, Ohio University
  • PhD 1987, UC-Davis, California
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate, 1998, UC-Davis
  • Visiting Scientist/Lecturer, Dept. of Scientific and Industrial Research, 1989 Auckland, New Zealand 1989
  • McKnight Postdoctoral Fellow, 1989-90, Washington State University
  • Assistant Professor, 1990-95, University of Arizona
  • Associate Professor, 1996-99, University of Nevada
  • Associate Professor, 2000-02, Michigan State University
  • Professor, 2002-present, Michigan State University
  • Distinguished Faculty Award, 2008, MSU College of Natural Science

dellapen@msu.edu
201A Biochemistry Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1319
Office: 517-517-432-9284
Lab: 517-432-9283


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Dean DellaPenna

Research Interests

diagram of plant path We are in the midst of a golden period for research into plant metabolism. The ongoing development and integration of various omics-technologies with established biochemical, molecular and genetic approaches have created a “perfect storm” for research into plant metabolism in which we can computationally, genetically and biologically dissect pathways between organisms, genomes and across evolutionary time. Historically, the most recent comparable period of advancement was during the 1960’s and 70’s, when the application of powerful new tools, radiolabels, allowed the pathways for much of plant metabolism as we now know it to be proposed. It is my firm belief we are in the midst of what will be considered in retrospect an analogous period of incredible advancement in our fundamental understanding of plant metabolism at the individual gene, system and genome levels. I have purposely positioned my laboratory and research programs to be at the front of this basic science wave and to apply the knowledge obtained to address serious, longstanding problems on the planet. MORE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recent Publications

Tian L, DellaPenna D, Dixon RA. (2007) The pds2 mutation is a lesion in the Arabidopsis homogentisate solanesyltransferase gene involved in plastoquinone biosynthesis. Planta. Sep;226(4):1067-73. Epub 2007 Jun 14.

Welsch R, Maass D, Voegel T, Dellapenna D, Beyer P. (2007) The Transcription Factor RAP2.2 and its Interacting Partner SINAT2: Stable Elements in the Carotenogenesis of Arabidopsis Leaves. Plant Physiol. Sep 14; [Epub ahead of print]

Ma Y, Baker RF, Magallanes-Lundback M, Dellapenna D, Braun DM. (2007) Tie-dyed1 and Sucrose export defective1 act independently to promote carbohydrate export from maize leaves. Planta. Oct 9; [Epub ahead of print]

Maeda H, Dellapenna D. (2007) Tocopherol functions in photosynthetic organisms. Curr Opin Plant Biol. 10(3):260-5.

DellaPenna D. (2007) Biofortification of plant-based food: enhancing folate levels by metabolicengineering. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 6;104(10):3675-6. No abstract available.

Maeda H, Song W, Sage TL, DellaPenna D. (2006) Tocopherols play a crucial role in low-temperature adaptation and Phloem loading in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell. 18(10):2710-32.

Sattler SE, Mene-Saffrane L, Farmer EE, Krischke M, Mueller MJ, DellaPennaD. (2006) Nonenzymatic lipid peroxidation reprograms gene expression and activatesdefense markers in Arabidopsis tocopherol-deficient mutants. Plant Cell. 18(12):3706-20.

Gilliland LU, Magallanes-Lundback M, Hemming C, Supplee A, Koornneef M, Bentsink L, Dellapenna D. (2006) Genetic basis for natural variation in seed vitamin E levels in Arabidopsisthaliana. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 5;103(49):18834-41.

Sakuragi Y, Maeda H, Dellapenna D, Bryant DA. (2006)alpha-Tocopherol plays a role in photosynthesis and macronutrient homeostasisof the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 that is independent of itsantioxidant function. Plant Physiol. Jun;141(2):508-21.

DellaPenna, D and Pogson BJ (2006) Vitamin Synthesis in plants: Tocopherols and Carotenoids. Ann. Rev. Plant. Biol. 57:711-738.

Kim, J and DellaPenna D (2006) Defining the primary route for lutein synthesis in plants: The role of Arabidopsis carotenoid beta-ring hydroxylase CYP97A3. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 103:3474-9.

Ruebelt MC, Lipp M, Reynolds TL, Schmuke JJ, Astwood JD, DellaPenna D, Engel KH, Jany KD (2006) Application of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis to interrogate alterations in the proteome of genetically modified crops. 3. Assessing unintended effects. J Agric Food Chem. 54:2169-77.

Auldridge ME, Block A, Dabney-Smith C, Mila I, Bouzayen M, DellaPenna, D and Klee, H. (2006) Characterization of three members of the Arabidopsis carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase family demonstrates the divergent roles of this multifunctional enzyme family. Plant Journal. 45:982-93.

Foyer CH, DellaPenna D and Van Der Straeten D (2006) A new era in plant metabolism research reveals a bright future for bio-fortification and human nutrition. Physiologia Plantarum 126: 289-290.

DellaPenna D and Last RL (2006) Progress in the dissection and manipulation of plant vitamin E biosynthesis. Physiologia Plantarum 126:356-368.

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