Main Research interests Plant molecular genetics and genomics. Plant development and photosynthesis, in particular photmorphogenesis and protection against photo-oxidative damage. Our work is focused on the characterization of plant pigments, particularly carotenoids and their role in photosynthesis and chloroplast development.
Carotenoids are important pigments in photosystems, many fruits, flowers, crustaceans and salmon.
Nutritionally they are an essential source of vitamin A and antioxidants and offer some protection against certain cancers, heart and eye diseases. The goals are to elucidate the mechanisms that control carotenoid accumulation and chloroplast biogenesis. The program takes advantage of recent technological advances in molecular genetics and genomics as well as utilizing traditional biochemical and physiological approaches. Characteizing the enzymes involved in carotenoid and chlorophyll biosynthesis. Determining how carotenoids and other antioxidative processes protect plants from excess light, that is photoprotection.