Sharon Kessler
Title:
Associate Professor
PhD Granting Institution:
University of California, Davis
Contact:
Email Address: kessles@purdue.edu
Office Phone: 494-8330
Lab Website Link: https://btny.purdue.edu/labs/kessler/
Primary Training Group:
Plant Biology
Research Areas:
Intercellular communication and signal transduction during plant development and reproduction.
Current Projects:
The Kessler Lab studies intercellular communication and signal transduction in plant development and reproduction. The signaling pathways discovered in pollination share interesting parallels with plant-microbe interactions suggesting that common mechanisms are used for perceiving both beneficial and harmful invaders. The Kessler Lab focuses on a plant-specific family of membrane proteins called MLOs which play a role in signaling processes ranging from pollen tube reception to root hair growth and pathogen infection. Our goal is to understand how receptor-kinase triggered changes in cell polarity and MLO protein accumulation patterns lead to successful reproduction and development. We use genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, and live imaging in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana to study these important signaling molecules.
Importance of Interdisciplinary Research:
The Kessler Lab uses a variety of interdisciplinary approaches to answer complex biological questions. These approaches include advanced microscopy and data analysis, proteomics, structural biology, and cell biology.