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1 use strict;
2 use CXGN::Page;
3 my $page=CXGN::Page->new('200510','Teri Solow');
5 my $stylesheet=<<END_STYLESHEET;
6 <style type="text/css">
7 <!--
8 body {
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24 .bibliography {
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28 </style>
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31 $page->header('The Jahn Lab', undef, $stylesheet);
32 print<<END_HEREDOC;
34 <center>
35 <h1>The Jahn Lab</h1>
36 </center>
38 <p class="footnote"><img src="/static_content/community/feature/200510-1.jpg" border="4" style="border-color: #000000" width="800" height="600" alt="Jahn Lab" /><br />
39 </p>
41 <p style="border-bottom: 0px">The research in our group focuses on gene discovery, the analysis of
42 genome structure and function and the relevance of this information for the
43 improvement of useful plants. Work in our program includes fundamental
44 studies of the relationship between model species and less well-
45 characterized crop species, the release of varieties and advanced breeding
46 lines, development of improved selection strategies, and research on the
47 genetics of disease resistance and fruit quality. Specifically, a major
48 effort in the lab is to demonstrate the extent to which results from a
49 leading plant model, tomato, are relevant to the related, but much less
50 well-characterized genus, <em>Capsicum</em>, the garden pepper. Towards this end we
51 have developed a detailed comparative genetic map for the Solanaceae now
52 defining the broadest comparative genetic system in the dicots. We have
53 used this tool to identify candidates for traits with simple and
54 quantitative inheritance and to assess the relationships between genes in
55 tomato and pepper that affect similar or related traits. Further studies
56 are focusing on traits considered distinctive</p>
58 <p class="footnote" style="float:right; width:375px; text-align:center;"><img src="/static_content/community/feature/200510-2.gif" border="4" style="border-color: darkgreen" width="333" height="229" alt="Different species and varieties of pepper" /><br />
59 Different species and varieties of pepper for a genus, e.g., pungency.
60 </p>
62 <p style="border-top:0px">Finally, the Solanaceae have afforded a unique
63 glimpse of the organization of resistance genes in plant genomes. We have
64 shown that despite co-evolutionary forces in host/pathogen interactions,
65 disease resistance genes represent ancient lineages in plants and that
66 resistance pathways may be very highly conserved. We also have extensive
67 gene discovery and breeding activities that integrate classical and
68 molecular methods for generating and selecting desirable genetic
69 variability, primarily focused on the identification of new sources of
70 biotic and abiotic stress resistance from wild accessions and related
71 species in cucurbits, <em>Phaseolus</em> and pepper. The Public Seed Initiative is
72 an outreach activity based on an alliance of public sector researchers and
73 non-profit groups interested in improving the dissemination and utilization
74 of public plant varieties and crop genetic diversity.</p>
76 <p>Pungency in pepper pods is a consequence of accumulation of the alkaloid
77 capsaicin (shown below) and its analogs. The biosynthesis of capsaicin is
78 restricted to the genus <em>Capsicum</em> and results from the acylation of an
79 aromatic moiety, vanillylamine, by a branched chain fatty acid. Apart from
80 portions of the biosynthetic pathway common to other primary metabolic
81 pathways, the remainder of the pathway remains unknown. One of the major
82 projects within our group focuses on capsaicin biosynthesis and the genes
83 that define and regulate the pathway.</p>
85 <p class="footnote" style="float:right; width:440px; text-align:center;"><img src="/static_content/community/feature/200510-3.gif" border="0" width="398" height="103" alt="Molecular structure of capsaicin" /><br />
86 Molecular structure of capsaicin
87 </p>
89 <p>Due to the popularity and familiarity of products containing capsaicin
90 there is rapidly growing economic significance in a wide array of food
91 products, in medicine, industry, law enforcement, and pest control (it has
92 become a leading insect protectant in organic agriculture and is the active
93 ingredient in many of the most effective deer and rodent repellents). Considering the importance of this pathway, it
94 is surprising that relatively little is known, particularly at the
95 molecular level, concerning the molecular genetics, biosynthesis,
96 subcellular localization and cellular structures required for pungency
97 accumulation in peppers. The recent cloning and initial characterization of
98 <em>Pun 1</em> (formerly known as <em>C</em>) allows for new insight into capsaicin
99 biosynthesis and accumulation. <em>pun 1</em> was first reported nearly 100 years
100 ago and was shown to be epistatic to all other pungency-related genes
101 (Webber, 1911). At present, the <em>pun1</em> allele is the only confirmed mutation
102 that has a qualitative affect on the presence/absence of capsaicinoids
103 (Blum et al., 2002 and references therein). Further characterization of
104 <em>Pun 1</em>, as well as other candidates implicated in pungency is currently
105 underway.</p>
107 <p>Another area of research in our lab is potyvirus resistance. Mutations
108 in the eIF4E homolog, encoded at the <em>pvr1</em> locus, result in broad-spectrum
109 potyvirus resistance conferred by <em>pvr1</em> resistance allele in Capsicum, a
110 gene widely deployed in agriculture. Point mutations in recessive
111 resistance genes, <em>pvr1</em>, <em>pvr1<sup>1</sup></em> and <em>pvr1<sup>2</sup></em>, grouped to similar regions of the
112 <em>eIF4E</em> gene and were predicted by protein homology models to cause
113 conformational shifts in the encoded proteins. While the protein encoded by
114 <em>pvr1<sup>+</sup></em> interacts strongly, proteins translated from all three resistance
115 alleles (<em>pvr1</em>, <em>pvr1<sup>1</sup></em> and <em>pvr1<sup>2</sup></em>) failed to bind VPg from either strain of
116 TEV in a yeast two hybrid assay. This failure to bind correlates with
117 resistance, suggesting that interruption of the interaction between VPg and
118 this eIF4E paralog may be necessary, but is not sufficient for potyvirus
119 resistance <em>in vivo</em>. Among the three resistance alleles, only the <em>pvr1</em>
120 gene product fails to bind m<sup>7</sup>-GTP cap-analog columns, suggesting that
121 disrupted cap-binding is not required for potyvirus resistance.</p>
123 <p class="footnote" style="float:left; width:350px; text-align:center;">
124 <img src="/static_content/community/feature/200510-5.gif" border="4" style="border-color: #000000" width="281" height="215" alt="Pepper infected with Tobacco Etch Virus" />
125 <br />
126 Uninfected pepper plant
127 </p>
129 <p class="footnote" style="float:right; width:350px; text-align:center;">
130 <img src="/static_content/community/feature/200510-4.gif" border="4" style="border-color: #000000" width="280" height="215" alt="Uninfected pepper plant" />
131 <br />
132 Pepper infected with Tobacco Etch Virus
133 </p>
135 <br clear="all" />
137 <div style="float:left; width:250; text-align:left;">
138 <h2>Contact Information</h2>
140 Molly Jahn<br />
141 Professor<br />
142 313 Bradfield Hall<br />
143 Plant Breeding and Genetics<br />
144 Cornell University<br />
145 Ithaca, NY 14853<br />
146 <a href="mailto:mmj9\@cornell.edu">mmj9\@cornell.edu</a><br />
147 607.255.8147<br />
148 607.255.6683 (fax)<br />
149 </p>
150 </div>
152 <p class="footnote" style="float:right; width:400px; text-align:center;"><img src="/static_content/community/feature/200510-6.gif" border="0" width="179" height="164" alt="Swirly image" /><br />
153 </p><br clear="all" />
155 <h2>Selected Publications</h2>
157 <p class="bibliography">
158 Kang, B.-C., I.H. Yeam, J.D. Frantz, and M.M. Jahn. 2005. Mutations in
159 translation initiation factor eIF4E that confer resistance to potyvirus
160 infection abolish interaction with Tobacco etch virus VPg in a non-
161 specific manner. Plant J. 42:392-405.
162 </p>
164 <p class="bibliography">
165 Stewart, C. Jr., B.-C. Kang, K. Liu, M. Mazourek, S. Moore, M.M. and Jahn.
166 2005. The Pun1 gene for pungency in pepper encodes a putative
167 acyltransferase. Plant J. 42:675-688.
168 </p>
170 <p class="bibliography">
171 Liu, K., B.-C. Kang, H. Jiang, C.B. Watkins, T.L. Setter and M.M. Jahn.
172 2005. Identification and characterization of an auxin-responsive GH3-
173 like gene in pepper fruit development. (accepted Plant Mol. Biol.).
174 </p>
176 <p class="bibliography">
177 E. A. Quirin, E. Ogundiwin, J.P. Prince, M. Mazourek, M. O. Briggs, T. S.
178 Chlanda, K.T. Kim, M. Falise, B.-C. Kang, and M.M. Jahn. 2005.
179 Development of sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) primers
180 for the detection of Phyto.5.2, a major QTL for resistance to
181 Phtophthora capsici Leon. in pepper .Theor. Appl. Genet. 110(4):605-12.
182 </p>
184 <p class="bibliography">
185 Kang, B.-C., and I. H. Yeam, and M.M. Jahn. 2005. Virus resistance genes.
186 Ann. Rev. of Phytopath. E. pub. May 2. 43:581-621.
187 </p>
189 <p class="bibliography">
190 Porch, T.G., M.H. Dickson, M. Long, D.R. Viands, and M.M. Jahn. 2005.
191 General combining ability effects for reproductive heat tolerance in
192 snap bean. J. Agriculture U. Puerto Rico 88(3-4):x-x.
193 </p>
195 <p class="bibliography">
196 Qian C.T., M.M. Jahn, J.E. Staub, X.-D. Luo and J.F. Chen. 2005. Meiotic
197 chromosome
198 behavior in an allotriploid derived from an amphidiploid x diploid
199 mating in Cucumis. accepted Plant Breeding
200 </p>
202 <p class="bibliography">
203 Henning, M.J, H.M. Munger and M.M. Jahn. 2005. 'Hannah's Choice F1' : A
204 new muskmelon hybrid with resistance to powdery mildew, Fusarium race 2
205 and potyviruses. HortScience in press.
206 </p>
208 <p class="bibliography">
209 Henning, M.J, H.M. Munger and M.M. Jahn. 2005. 'PMR Delicious 51': An
210 improved open-pollinated melon with resistance to powdery mildew.
211 HortScience 40(1):261-262.
212 </p>
214 <p class="bibliography">
215 Paran, I., J. Rouppe van der Voort, V. Lefebvre, M.M. Jahn, L. Landry, R.
216 van Wijk, H. Verbakel, B. Tanyolac, C. Caranta, A. Ben Chaim, K.D.
217 Livingstone, A. Palloix and J. Peleman. 2004. An integrated genetic
218 map of pepper. Molecular Breeding 13:251-261.
219 </p>
221 <p class="bibliography">
222 Chen, J., X. Luo, C. Qian, M.M. Jahn, J.E. Staub, F. Zhuang, Q. Lou and G.
223 Ren. 2004. Cucumis monosomic alien addition lines: morphological,
224 cytological and RAPD analysis. TAG 108:1343-1348.
225 </p>
227 <p class="bibliography">
228 Alba, R., Z. Fei, P. Payton, Y. Liu, S.L. Moore, P. Debbie, J.S. Gordon,
229 J.K.C. Rose, G. Martin, S.D. Tanksley, M. Bouzayen, M.M. Jahn and J.
230 Giovannoni. 2004. ESTs, cDNA microarrays and gene expression
231 profiling: tools for dissecting plant physiology and development.
232 Plant J. 39:697-714
233 </p>
235 <p class="bibliography">
236 Rose, J.K.C., S. Bashir, JJ Giovannoni, MM Jahn and R.S. Saravanan. 2004.
237 Tackling the plant proteome: practical approaches, hurdles and
238 experimental tools. Plant J 39:715-733.
239 </p>
241 <p class="bibliography">
242 Nelson, R.J., R. Naylor and M.M. Jahn. 2004. The role of genomics research
243 in the improvement of orphan crops. Crop Science 44:1901-1904.
244 </p>
246 END_HEREDOC
247 $page->footer();