Biological Sciences
Transport Processes
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Dr. Tegeder’s work deals with identification, characterization, and molecular genetic manipulation of key transport processes controlling partitioning of nutrients, e.g., amino acids and sugars in plant organs. These transport processes are control points in plant reproductive success/production and nutritional quality of seeds and other edible plant parts. Her most recent work uses a combination of molecular, biochemical, cell biological, physiological, and genetic tools to understand mechanisms regulating amino acid transport into sink organs such as developing reproductive structures and seeds. She has cloned and characterized a number of amino acid transporters and is expanding her work to a broad range of transporters from different nutrient transporter families. These genes are being used to manipulate transport patterns and efficiency by molecular genetic techniques. While Arabidopsis has served as a model system, she has extended her efforts into the engineering of legumes for improved productivity and nutritional quality. These approaches are critical to the emerging field of “nutragenomics,” which is the targeted identification of factors required for nutritional quality and molecular genetic applications of the information obtained. Results from her transporter work, as well as some recent reviews of the topic, have been published in the top journals in the plant sciences and have been well cited.
Contact Information
Mechthild Tegeder, Ph.D.
School of Biological Sciences
Center for Reproductive Biology
Washington State University
PO Box 644236
Pullman, WA 99164-4236
Telephone: 509-335 7545
E-mail: tegeder@wsu.edu
Health and Life Sciences
Genomics, Proteomics, and Informatics
Washington State University is committed to building on its existing strengths in genomics, proteomics, and informatics. The scientists highlighted here provide a sampling of both established and recently added WSU research programs in these areas. Each of these scientists and their many collaborators both at WSU and elsewhere are making important impacts in their respective areas. A recently developed strategic plan at Washington State University identifies biotechnology as a significant focus for research development, so the current strengths are priming the system for very rapid growth.
- James Bruce
- Kulvinder Gill
- Derek McLean
- Guy H. Palmer
- Mechthild Tegeder
- John Wyrick
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Dr. Mechthild Tegeder headed the amino acid transport group at the University of Tuebingen, Germany, before accepting a position at Washington State University in January 2001. Her work is currently supported by the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Agriculture. She has previously been supported by European governmental agencies and private biotechnology enterprises and received patents for some of her discoveries along with her co-workers in Germany. Besides her expertise in the transport field, she brought experience in supervising students and postdocs, and has already attracted three Ph.D. students, three undergraduates, a postdoc, and a technician since joining the University. |
