About Dr. Warpeha's Research

Our laboratory is interested in compelling questions in cellular signaling.

G-protein regulation of early development and responses to the environment. Eukaryotic cells receive many signals from the environment. We examine some of the features of cellular signaling as mediated by GTP-binding (G)-proteins. This NSF-funded work is focused on abiotic signals that elicit G-protein signaling and the resulting effects on organism development. We utilize the simple genetic model Arabidopsis thaliana. A critical period in plant development is the transition from seed to seedling, where the young plant must go from an embryonic developmental program to an independent, photosynthesizing organismal program. Three of the effector proteins that we are interested in understanding better are Pirin1 (PRN1), Oberon (OBE), and PD1/ADT3.

Regulation of cellular antioxidant levels. The G-Protein signal pathway GCR1-GPA1-PD1/ADT3 regulates the phenylpropanoid levels in the germinating seedling. We are studying this pathway to better understand how the young seedling orients itself as a result of Global Change, i.e. changes in abiotic and biotic stressors. Plants are subjected to many abiotic (cold, heat, salt, varying light and radiation qualities) and biotic (fungus, insects, nematodes etc) signals ordinarily in the environment, and must make different chemicals to survive. When changes in abiotic and biotic signals happen too quickly as a result of human activity, there are negative effects on world agriculture and ecosystems. How we can regulate plant responses to attenuate certain aspects of the phenylpropanoid pathway may help plants to withstand changing environmental pressures. Some of this work in soybean is supported by the Illinois Soybean Association.

Application of antioxidants to human health and disease. Antioxidant profiles of plants have many uses in treating illness and disease in humans. We are investigating the utility of particular antioxidants and other plant products in attenuating cell inflammation and survival. We have also initiated work in strawberry and blueberry to study the effects of particular compounds on cellular stress. Particular constituents of developing leaf material may be effective in slowing the growth of, or killing cancer cells. We are working to identifying these constituents and using specific plant strains to "farm" these materials to screen for effective materials to use against cancer.

Representative Publications

Warpeha KM and Williamson PR (2011) Susceptibility of Intact Germinating Arabidopsis thaliana to the Human Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus. Submitted.

Warpeha KM and Kaufman LS (2009) UV-effects on young seedlings of soybean: Effects in early development and long-term effects. In: UV Radiation in Global Change: Measurements, Modeling and Effects on Ecosystems. Springer-Verlag and Tsinghua University Press.

Yu XH, Sayegh R, Maymon M, Warpeha K, Klejnot J, Yang HY, Huang J, Lee J, Kaufman L and Lin CT (2008) Light-inducing formation of nuclear bodies of Arabidopsis CRY2 is associated with its degradation in blue light. Plant Cell 21: 118-130.

Warpeha KM, Gibbons J, Carol A, Slusser J, Tree R, Durham W and Kaufman LS (2008) Presence of adequate phenylalanine mediated by G-protein is critical for protection from UV radiation damage in young etiolated Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. Plant Cell & Environment 31: 1756-1770.