Kenneth Keegstra
Professor
Director, Plant Research Lab
- Ph.D. 1971, University of Colorado
- Postdoctoral Fellow 1971-73, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Faculty Member, 1974-93, University of Wisconsin
106 Plant Biology Lab
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
Office: 517-353-2270
Lab: 517-353-7874
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Kenneth Keegstra
Research Interests
Plant cells contain two structures not found in animal cells: plastids and cell walls. Each plays an important role in the proper functioning of plants, and our laboratory is studying the biogenesis of both. For information on our studies on plant cell walls, performed jointly with Jonathan Walton's group, see Cell Wall Biosynthesis.
Plastid biogenesis requires the post-translational import of nuclear-encoded precursor proteins. Although the basic outline of this import process is now available, many important details are missing. Our laboratory is employing reverse genetic strategies to investigate the function of selected components of the protein import apparatus and biochemical strategies to investigate how they interact with precursor proteins.
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Recent Publications
Tripp J, Inoue K, Keegstra K, Froehlich JE. (2007) A novel serine/proline-rich domain in combination with a transmembrane domain is required for the insertion of AtTic40 into the inner envelope membrane of chloroplasts. Plant J. Sep 20; [Epub ahead of print]
Cocuron JC, Lerouxel O, Drakakaki G, Alonso AP, Liepman AH, Keegstra K, Raikhel N, Wilkerson CG. (2007) A gene from the cellulose synthase-like C family encodes a beta-1,4 glucan synthase.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 104(20):8550-5.
Drakakaki G, Zabotina O, Delgado I, Robert S, Keegstra K, Raikhel N. (2006) Arabidopsis reversibly glycosylated polypeptides 1 and 2 are essential for pollen development. Plant Physiol. 142(4):1480-92.
Lerouxel O, Cavalier DM, Liepman AH, Keegstra K. (2006) Biosynthesis of plant cell wall polysaccharides - a complex process. Curr Opin Plant Biol. 9(6):621-30.
Cavalier DM, Keegstra K. (2006) Two xyloglucan xylosyltransferases catalyze the addition of multiple xylosyl residues to cellohexaose. J Biol Chem. 281(45):34197-207.
Keegstra K, Walton J. (2006) Plant science. Beta-glucans--brewer's bane, dietician's delight. Science. 311(5769):1872-3. No abstract available. MORE