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Michael Timko

Timko, Michael P.

Primary Appointment

Professor, Biology

Education

  • PhD, , Rutgers University

Contact Information

PO Box 400328
Telephone: 434-982-5817
Email: mpt9g@virginia.edu

Research Disciplines

Biochemistry, Bioinformatics and Genomics, Computational Biology, Genetics, Infectious Diseases/Biodefense, Molecular Biology

Research Interests

Gene regulation during host-parasite interaction

Research Description

Research in my laboratory currently focuses on several very different aspects of plant cell growth and differentiation. One area of current interest is an examination of the biochemical, cellular, and genetic factors that regulate the biosynthesis of chlorophyll and other biologically relevant tetrapyrroles in higher plants, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria. We are particularly interested in process of protochlorophyllide reduction, the key regulatory step in the biosynthetic pathway. Two distinct biochemical routes for Pchlide reduction have evolved in nature. One mechanism, found in the cyanobacteria, green algae, non-vascular plants, gymnosperms and angiosperms, is catalyzed by a unique photoenzyme known as NADPH: protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (POR) and is dependent on light for its action. The second mechanism, thought to be evolutionarily older because of its occurrence in the purple bacteria, reduces Pchlide to Chlide in a light-independent manner. Over the next several years we also hope to determine whether the different POR isoforms now known to exist in most plant species have non-redundant functions during chloroplast development and, if so, to define these roles(s) in the context of chloroplast development and overall photomorphogenesis. Future work will also involve a detailed analysis of structure-function relationships in the vascular plant PORs. In addition to our work on the light-dependent POR enzyme, a major new effort is now underway in my laboratory using Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as a model organism to understand the process of light-independent chlorophyll formation and the factors involved in its regulation.

A second major area of research in the laboratory is examination of the mechanisms controlling cellular differentiation in the parasitic angiosperm Striga asiatica, and the molecular genetic basis for resistance to Striga parasitism in host and non-host crop species. The parasitic angiosperms are a diverse group of highly specialized organisms that derive all or part of their nutrition from other plant species. As a group, these plants constitute one of the major problems facing agricultural advancement in developing nations. Therefore, understanding the biology of these parasitic plants and the processes of host-parasite communication have merit at both the basic and applied level.

In addition to these two areas of investigation, a more recent area of study in my laboratory is an examination of the molecular genetic factors that regulate the formation of nicotine and related tropane alkaloids during plant senescence and as a consequence of pathogen attack. The biosynthesis of alkaloids in tobacco, as in most higher plants, is a developmentally activated process involving differential gene expression in specific tissues and cell types. In our studies, we are analyzing the nature and complexity of gene expression in the roots of maturing tobacco plants after removal of the flowering head (i.e., topping) using currently available PCR-based mRNA differential display technology. We are also examining the nature of differential gene expression in the roots and leaves of mature tobacco during the normal maturation and senescence, during induced senescence (e.g., following topping), and in response to wounding. Understanding the molecular basis for differential gene expression during tobacco growth and development is a fundamental requirement for designing successful strategies for the manipulation of leaf alkaloid contents.

Finally, in collaboration with Dr. Barbara Mann (Department of Medicine, UVA Health Sciences Center) we are testing the feasibility of producing recombinant GAL adhesin from E. histolytica in transgenic plants and the ability of this plant-derived protozoan protein to elicit oral immunization to amebiasis in animal (gerbil) model systems. If successful our proposed studies could provide the basis for the development of a plant-derived oral vaccine.

Selected Publications