Center for Molecular Agriculture

Maarten Chrispeels

Professor
Division of Biological Sciences,
University of California San Diego
PH +858-534-2571 FX +858-534-4052
mchrispeels@ucsd.edu
http://www-biology.ucsd.edu/labs/chrispeels/home.htm
 
Dr. Chrispeels received his Ph. D. in 1964 from the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign). After postdoctoral work with Joseph E. Varner at the DOE Plant Research Laboratory (Michigan State University), he joined the UCSD Biology faculty in 1967. In 1973, he held a Guggenheim fellowship for a sabbatical leave in the UK. He served as the editor-in-chief of Plant Physiology 1992-2000. In 1996, he received the Stephen Hales award from the American Society of Plant Physiologists and was elected to the National Academy of Sciences. He has served on Federal Advisory Panels for the NSF and the USDA and was a member of the international board that advises the Presidential Science Committee of Chile. Dr. Chrispeels is a member of the scientific advisory board of several  biotechnology companies. Detailed CV. 
Research foci: Water Channel Proteins, Stress Signaling and Stress Responses, Insect Resistance

Much of the work in the Chrispeels laboratory focuses on diverse aspects of plant cell biology including protein targeting in the secretory system, the molecular biology of aquaporins, and the unfolded protein response. In addition, there is a research project on bioactive seed proteins lectins and enzyme inhibitors. 

Technologies developed in the Chrispeels laboratory:

  • Genes that encode water channel proteins or aquaporins. 
  • Genes that encode inhibitors of specific digestive enzymes of insects. 
  • Mutant plants that make non-allergenic glycoproteins. 
  • Genes that encode lectins that inhibit the proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. 
  • The gene that encodes plant GPT can be used as a selectable marker for plant transformation.

Recent publications:

Chrispeels, M.J. (2005) L’agricoltura del nuovo millenio mette radici nella genomica. Darwin March/April 64-73.

Chrispeels (2005) Harry Beevers 1924-2004. A biographical Memoir. Biographical Memoirs 36 National Academy of Sciences USA

Aroca, R., G. Amodeo, S. Fernandez-Illescas, E.M. Herman, F. Chaumont and M. J. Chrispeels (2005) The roles of aquaporins and membrane damage in chilling and hydrogen peroxide induced changes in the hydroaulic conductance of maize roots. Plant Physiology 137: 341-352

Bibyut, K., S. A. Moore, W. Tate, L. Molvig, R. L. Morton, D. P. Rees, P. Chiaiese, M.J. Chrispeels, L.M. Tabe and T.V. Higgins, (2004) Transgenic chickpea seeds expressing high levels of a bean a-amylase inhibitor. Molecular Breeding, Vol. 14, 73-82.

Martinez, I.M., M.J. Chrispeels, (2003). Genomic analysis of the unfolded protein response in Arabidopsis shows its connection to important cellular processes. The Plant Cell, Vol. 15, 1-16.

Apone, F., N. Alyeshmerni, K. Wiens, D. Chalmers, M.J. Chrispeels and G. Colucci.
(2003) The G-protein coupled receptor GCR1 and the a-subunit of the heterotrimeric G-protein GPA1 regulate cell division through activation of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC). Plant Physiol. 133: 571-579.

Chrispeels, M. J., and D. Mandoli (2003) Agricultural Ethics Plant Physiology 132: 4-9.