My research is continuously evolving, but its current focus is on the signal transduction networks controlled by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and MAPK kinases (MAPKKs) in plants.

I have always been fascinated by the diversity and adaptability that typify plants. In earlier years I concentrated on the chemical virtuosity of plants, sorting out the metabolic pathways and enzymes involved. This led to examination of the genes encoding those enzymes, and ultimately of the mechanisms by which those genes are controlled, i.e. signal transduction.

MAPKs and MAPKKs are ubiquitous members of the eukaryotic protein kinase super-family, and regulate many important processes in yeast and mammals. Genes encoding them appear to be particularly abundant within plant genomes, suggesting that they may have evolved to play an even wider range of roles in this phylum. The data currently available for a few members of these two gene families do point to extensive involvement of MAPK/Ks in regulation of growth, development and defense. However, virtually nothing is known about most members, or about the specific biochemical mechanisms by which these kinases exert their influence.

Our goal is to biochemically define the signal networks in which plant MAPK modules participate, to place these within the context of the relevant upstream sensors and downstream targets, and thus to functionally link environmental inputs to developmental programming, fitness and survival.


A second, but related, interest is the evolutionary origins of modern plant MAPK gene families, a question we are exploring through comparative phylogenetics. This is aided by our active involvement in the international poplar and spruce genomics projects.