Susanne Hoffmann-Benning
Research Assistant Professor

• M.S. 1988, Albert-Ludwigs Universitaet, Freiburg, Germany
  
• Ph.D. 1993, Michigan State University
• Postdoctoral Researcher, 1993-97, Institut fuer Genbiologische Forschung Berlin GmbH, Berlin, Germany
• Visiting Research Associate, 1998-2002 Michigan State University
• Co-Manager, 2002-2004, MSU-Mass Spectrometry Facility

hoffma16@msu.edu
120 Biochemistry Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1319
Office: 517-355-9644
Lab: 517-432-9281

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Susanne Hoffmann-Benning

Research Interests

While we are generally interested in the characterization of compounds, which are important for plant growth and development, our main research focuses on two aspects of plants:

• I) The mechanism of phloem transport and its role during long-distance signaling, and
  
• II) The changes in the plant cell wall and cuticle during rapid tissue expansion

I) The plant phloem plays a crucial role in assimilate and nutrient transport, pathogen response, and in plant growth and development. It contains a multitude of compounds: small molecules, peptides and proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. Yet, few species have yielded pure phloem exudates, and if proteins need to be analyzed, those species tend not to have sequenced genomes, making identification difficult. We are using proteomics and other mass spectrometry tools to characterize the proteins, metabolites and lipids present in the phloem exudate of Perilla ocymoides and Arabidopsis thaliana. We are now starting to analyze the expression and distribution of proteins, mRNAs and lipids that could possibly involved in the long-distance signaling in plants. MORE

II) Plant cells are surrounded by the cell wall and, where the tissue meets the environment, are covered by the cuticle. While the cell wall is largely composed of interconnected carbohydrates and proteins, the structural component of the cuticle is cutin, a polyester compound composed mainly of C16- and C18- hydroxy and epoxy fatty acids. The cell wall plays a role in regulating the degree of cell- and organ expansion; it gives the plant stability/structure, and it is a barrier against pathogen infection. The cuticle is essential for proper organ formation, a barrier to water loss and pathogen entry, and - as we have shown - also plays a role in regulating plant growth. We are using proteomics to identify proteins that are enriched in the outer epidermal cells of rapidly growing corn coleoptile and will be testing their expression and role during plant growth. MORE

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