There is a new director at the PRL- and more! Check out all of the interesting things happening this week, including the picture of the month and a story about the popularization of the Arabdopsis! Read all about it here: mailchi.mp/msu/prl-news...

We are saddened by the passing of Dr. Andrew D. Hanson. During his time at the PRL, he contributed greatly to advancing our understanding of metabolic pathways and their regulation. He was a generous colleague who supported and encouraged those around him. blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/hosdept/2025...

The development of transgenic grasses with elevated levels of mixed-linkage glucan is being actively pursued worldwide. This, scientists think, may impact soil-carbon processing. Read more about it here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Federica Brandizzi was named a Hannah Distinguished Professor by MSU, an honor given to profs for their exceptional scholarly achievements and substantial contributions to their field. Congrats to Federica on this achievement! Read more about her career & achievements: natsci.msu.edu/news/2025/20...

Jojoba, a desert shrub, has an unusual capacity to store liquid wax esters in its seeds. If that sounds interesting to you, check out this new article published by The Plant Cell! academic.oup.com/plcell/artic...

🚨 Less than 1 week left to register for #GLPSC2025! Join us September 12–14 in Lansing, MI for the 1st Great Lakes Plant Science Conference, and help expand the horizons of #plantscience across the Great Lakes region and beyond! ⏳ Register by August 31: research.msu.edu/glpsc2025

The Howe lab at the MSU Plant Resilience Institute is now #hiring a postdoctoral researcher to lead a project focused on discovering a new class of regulatory metabolites and their nuclear signaling mechanisms that govern plant resilience. 🌱 Apply now: careers.msu.edu/jobs/researc... #PlantSciJobs

Wood, a resource required around the world; and chemical acetylation might be just what is needed to prevent its decay. Check out this new article and learn more about the methods being tested today: pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....

Since 1978, Arabidopsis has garnered lots of attention. This is because of researchers around the world, whose published papers on Arabidopsis grew from a handful in 1978 to over 100,000+ entries. Check out the story here to learn more: natsci.msu.edu/news/2025/20...

From Paris, to Alberta, to Lansing MI, Chris and Shauna Somerville have traveled the world to research their passions. Their journey led them to @MSU, where their research on Arabidopsis would influence the lives of thousands. Read more about their story here: natsci.msu.edu/news/2025/20...

We are excited to announce Federica Brandizzi as the next director of the MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory! Brandizzi's lab has contributed many important pieces to the canon of plant research in organelle biology, biofuel research and space biology. natsci.msu.edu/news/2025/20...

It began with the seedling of an idea, sprouting over the years into a field of research that has touched many lives. The legacy of Arabidopsis remains a prime example of how science often takes the time and care of generations. natsci.msu.edu/news/2025/20...

This summer, the Vermaas lab hosted Rosie Carter as a part of the REU program! She presented her research at the 2025 MidSURE research symposium.

Have you heard? Undergrads are participating in summer research, fueling future bioeconomy. Check out how these 21 students are developing new and innovative ways to combat weather extremes being put on agricultural production: natsci.msu.edu/news/2025/20...

Robust and reproducible plant culture systems are essential for studying physiological, molecular, and developmental responses under controlled conditions. Current Protocols has published an article going more in depth about this topic: currentprotocols.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

In Arabidopsis, salicylic acid biosynthesis occurs predominantly through the isochorismate synthase (ICS) route. Check out more in this recently published article by Nature titled "Deciphering phenylalanine-derived salicylic acid biosynthesis in plants" www.nature.com/articles/s41...

New pathways in toxic chemicals, a retirement, and an incredible new photo of the month! Check it all out and more here in the news: mailchi.mp/msu/prl-news...

Farmer's are looking to grow more successful crops- and a newly discovered pathway in a plant process could be just the thing they're looking for. Learn more here: natsci.msu.edu/news/2025/20...

The Plant Journal has published a new piece titled "Through the lens of bioenergy crops: advances, bottlenecks, and promises of plant engineering" Check it out here to learn more! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

We recently had the honor to celebrate with Tom Sharkey as he begins his retirement. Tom spent 51 years in the plant sciences, maintaining a robust research program while teaching and mentoring young scientists. Read more about his career: natsci.msu.edu/news/2025/20...

Just two months left until the inaugural Great Lakes Plant Science Conference! 🌿 Make sure to register by August 31 to join us in expanding horizons in plant science at: research.msu.edu/glpsc2025 #GLPSC2025 #PlantScience #PlantBiology

An endless thank you to Professor Thomas D. Sharkey for his 51 years of research, teaching, and collaboration. As he heads into retirement, we wanted to recognize how his efforts have made a resounding impact on the world of science. Read here for more on his legacy: natsci.msu.edu/news/2025/20...

Looking for a story? Well, have we got you covered! Check out the latest news from the Plant Research Laboratories! mailchi.mp/msu/prl-news...

Check out this video representation of the protein human cis-Prenyltransferase (h-cisPT) as it binds itself to a membrane. This ensures that that the protein is oriented properly, allowing it to do its job properly. Watch the visualization at this link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwja...

Congratulations to Duncan Boren, a fourth-year graduate student in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, for receiving the Keegstra and Thomashow Travel Award! Read more about his accomplishment here: natsci.msu.edu/news/2025/20...

Something new is brewing... A new project is underway that could help researchers have a better understanding of an important piece of Earth’s evolutionary history. Check out this article by Kara Headley here: natsci.msu.edu/news/2025/20...

📢 There's only ONE WEEK LEFT to submit an abstract to present a poster at the 1st Great Lakes Plant Science Conference! Submit your #GLPSC2025 poster abstract by Monday, June 30, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET at: research.msu.edu/glpsc2025 #PlantScience #PlantBiology #AgEducation #PlantConference

New research from Trends in Plant Science titled "Nutrient cues control flowering time in plants". Read all about it in their new article here: www.cell.com/trends/plant...

Check out this article about soybeans and their cryptic emission of isoprene! www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Some plants make their own pesticide — but at what cost to the atmosphere? Tom Sharkey and his lab have published findings that could provide a path for engineering plants that are more resilient to environmental change and pest outbreaks. Check out more here: msutoday.msu.edu/news/2025/so...

What's this? New research shows that directionally challenged proteins lead to eye and neurological disease? If you'd like to know more, read all about the research here: natsci.msu.edu/news/2025/20...

What's this? New research shows that directionally challenged proteins lead to eye and neurological disease? If you'd like to know more, read all about the research here: natsci.msu.edu/news/2025/20...

New research! Interested in how volatile isoprenoids improve plant thermotolerance? Check out this article for more details! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

🚨 Abstracts to present a poster at the 1st Great Lakes Plant Science Conference are due June 30, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET! Don’t miss this chance to showcase your research and connect with prominent Great Lakes region plant scientists! Visit the #GLPSC2025 website to submit: research.msu.edu/glpsc2025

Read all about it! Check out the latest news from the Plant Research Laboratory: mailchi.mp/msu/prl-news...

Amazon trees under pressure! New study reveals how forest giants handle light and heat. The MultispeQ, a tool developed by David Kramer in the MSU-DOE Plant Research lab, was used in the study to help capture how leaves in natural settings balance incoming light. www.canr.msu.edu/news/amazon-...

Here is some new research from Kramer lab published by New Phytologist Foundation: "Seasonal and intracanopy shifts in the fates of absorbed photons in central Amazonian forests: implications for leaf fluorescence and photosynthesis" nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

New research from Vermaas lab published in Protein Science titled "Identifying and quantifying membrane interactions of the protein human cis-prenyltransferase" Read more about it here! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Christoph Benning is among the 120 members and 30 international members of the National Academy of Sciences being recognized for their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research! Read more about his achievements here: msutoday.msu.edu/news/2025/na...

Check out this new research by Vermaas lab published in Crop Science titled, "Synthesis, function, and genetic variation of sorgoleone, the major biological nitrification inhibitor in sorghum." acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

Please join us in congratulating Ducat lab Postdoc Manos Kokarakis for receiving the Reddy Endowed Award!

Congrats to Sophie Cannon and Liam Markell for graduating! Both Sophia and Liam were exceptional undergraduate assistants in the Howe lab.

We're pleased to announce the awardees of the @msupri.bsky.social Seed Grant Cohort 3, Huija Gong & Bailey Kleven! They are awarded for their collaboration on a project titled "Unraveling the mechanism of sulfur signaling in plant growth-resilience tradeoffs"! plantresilience.msu.edu/resources/fu...

Congratulations to Jenny Schuster, Luke Sharpe and Mitchell Ticoras, recipients of the Inaugural MPS Award for Leadership in Community Building and Outreach. Jenny, Luke and Mitch have made outstanding contributions in the MSU community and the broader public in student recruitment and development.

Congratulations to Christoph Benning, who was named Fellow by the American Society of Plant Biologists this year. blog.aspb.org/2025-aspb-aw...

Congratulations to Emily Schley for earning first place at this year's UURAF! Emily is a graduating senior who exemplifies a great dedication to science, and her commitment towards research is happily recognized with this award. @UR_at_MSU #UURAF2025

Interested in learning more about Arabidopsis? New research in @natcomms.nature.com from Hu & Walker Labs gives insight into a link between a cytosolic glyoxylate shunt and the canonical photorespiratory pathway. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Read the latest news from the Molecular Plants Sciences program: mailchi.mp/msu/mps-may-25

Read the latest news from the Plant Research Laboratory: mailchi.mp/msu/prl-news...

Congratulations to Christoph Benning on his election to the National Academy of Sciences! Benning is the director of the Plant Research Laboratory, whose 40 year career has made him one of the world's foremost experts in plant lipid metabolism. natsci.msu.edu/news/2025/20...