John Gray
Post - Professor of Plant Molecular Biology & Head of Department
Cambridge University Address
Department of Plant Sciences
University of Cambridge
Downing Street, Cambridge.
CB2 3EA. United Kingdom.
Main research topics
John Gray is interested in furthering the understanding how the expression of genes in the chloroplast and nuclear genomes is coordinated, especially with regards of ensuring biogenesis of functional chloroplasts. To carry out this work John studies signalling from chloroplasts to the nucleus that control gene expression in the nucleus. Additionally John investigates stromules; these permit the exchanges of material to occur between interconnected chloroplasts.
Selected publications
Chua, Y.L., Mott, E., Brown, A.P.C., MacLean, D. and Gray, J.C. (2004) Microarray analysis of chromatin-immunoprecipitated DNA identifies specific regions of tobacco genes associated with acetylated histories. Plant J. 37, 789-800.
Gray, J.C., Sullivan, J.A., Wang, J.-H., Jerome, C.A. and MacLean, D. (2003) Coordination of plastid and nuclear gene expression. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B. 358, 135-145.
Howard Griffiths
Post: Professor of Plant Molecular Biology & Head of Department
Main research topics
Howard Griffiths is interested in the diversity of natural vegetation that is caused by changing environmental conditions. His aim is to discover the physiological traits that confer acclimation and adaptation in extreme environments. To this end Howard makes use of biochemical tools and C02 arrays to investigate photosynthetic activities.
Selected publications
Dodd AN, Griffiths H, Taybi T, Cushman JC and Borland AM (2003) Integrating diel starch metabolism with the circadian and environmental regulation of Crassulacean acid metabolism in Mesembryanthemum crystallinum Planta 216: 789-797.
Pierce S, Winter K and Griffiths H (2002) The role of CAM in high rainfall cloudforests: an in situ comparison of photosynthetic pathways in Bromeliaceae. Plant Cell and Environment, 25, 1181- 1189.
Peter Grubb
Post - Emeritus Professor
Main research topics
Although now retired Peter Grubb is still an active member of faculty at Cambridge, and is busy writing a book on world vegetation, and writing papers. Peter is mainly interested in plant community dynamics and maintainance of diversity; ecological physiology; and the nature of plant competition.
Selected publications
Dodd AN, Griffiths H, Taybi T, Cushman JC and Borland AM (2003) Integrating diel starch metabolism with the circadian and environmental regulation of Crassulacean acid metabolism in Mesembryanthemum crystallinum Planta 216: 789-797.
Pierce S, Winter K and Griffiths H (2002) The role of CAM in high rainfall cloudforests: an in situ comparison of photosynthetic pathways in Bromeliaceae. Plant Cell and Environment, 25, 1181- 1189.
David Hanke
Post - Senior Lecturer
Main research topics
David Hanke investigates how developmental changes are controlled. These changes can occur through shifts in the level of active hormones, by alterations in tissue responses, or by a combination of the two. By microanalysing tissues for hormones his group are able to determine any changes in signal strength that occur, whilst to monitor sensitivity they are investigating the activity of receptors, secondary messengers and transcription factors. His main interest is in cytokinins, and the role of the secondary messenger inositol hexakisphosphate.
Selected publications
Collier, M.D., Sheppard, L.T., Crossley, A. & Hanke, D.E. (2003) Needle cytokinin content as a sensitive bioindicator of N pollution in sitka spruce. Plant Cell Environ. 26, 1929-1939.
Brearley, C.A. & Hanke, D.E. (2000) Metabolic relations of inositol 3,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate revealed by cell permeabilization. Identification of inositol 3,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate 1-kinase and inositol 3,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate phosphatase activities in mesophyll cells. Plant Physiol. 122,1209-1216.