Dr. C. Peter Constabel
Position
Contact
Area of expertise
Biomedical Research and Genomics | Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology | Forest Biology
Areas of research focus
- Biochemistry of Plant Defense and Adaptation to Stress
- Molecular Control of Plant Stress Responses
- Phenolic Metabolism and Anti-herbivore Defense Chemistry of Trees
- Forest Tree Genomics
- Chemical Ecology of Trees and Fruit
My research program aims to understand how plants use biochemistry defend themselves from pests and pathogens, or tolerate other environmental stresses. Plant stress responses are rapid, involve changes in gene expression, and lead to the synthesis of bioactive phytochemicals. My lab works on the regulation and function of plant tannins, and the biosynthesis of other phenolic chemicals found in trees. Forests contain tremendous amounts of these compounds, with important consequences at the ecosystem scale. Tannins are also important for human health, and are found in native berries, nuts and whole foods.
We carry out experiments using poplar trees, which can be genetically transformed and are a model for tree molecular biology. We study how and why trees make such large amounts of tannins and phenolics, how these chemicals help to defend trees, and how their biosynthesis is regulated. In addition, we are working to elucidate novel biochemical pathways in trees, leading to bioactive compounds of potential therapeutic relevance.
- Bio 458 Plant Biochemistry and Biochemical Ecology
- Bio 366 Plant Physiology
- FORB 560 Forest Biology Seminar
- FORB 570 Topics in Forest Biology
- Bio 186 Physiology and Cell Biology
Shay, P.E., Constabel, C.P., Trofymow, T.A. (2018) Evidence for the role and fate of water-insoluble condensed tannins in the short-term reduction of carbon loss during litter decay. Biogeochemistry 137: 127-141
James AM, Ma D, Mellway R, Gesell A, Yoshida K, Walker V, Tran L, Stewart D, Reichelt M, Jussi Suvanto, Salminen J-P, Gershenzon J, Séguin A, and Constabel CP (2017) The poplar MYB115 and MYB134 transcription factors regulate proanthocyanidin synthesis and structure. Plant Physiology 74: 154-171
Shay PE, Trofymow TA, Constabel CP (2017). An improved butanol-HCl assay for quantification of water-soluble, acetone:methanol-soluble, and insoluble proanthocyanidins (condensed tannins). BMC Plant Methods 13:63.
Yoshida K, Ma D and Constabel CP (2015) The MYB182 protein downregulates proanthocyanidin and anthocyanin biosynthesis in poplar by repressing both structural and regulatory flavonoid genes. Plant Physiology 167: 693-710.
Chedgy RJ, Köllner TG, Constabel CP (2015) Functional characterization of two acyltransferases from Populus trichocarpa capable of synthesizing benzyl benzoate and salicyl benzoate, potential intermediates in salicinoid phenolic glycoside biosynthesis. Phytochemistry 13: 139-149.
Tran LT, Taylor JS, and Constabel CP (2012) The polyphenol oxidase gene family in land plants: Lineage-specific duplication and expansion. BMC Genomics 13:395
Zifkin M, Jin A, Ozga JA, Zaharia I, Schernthaner JP, Gesell A, Abrams S, Kennedy JA and Constabel CP (2012) Gene expression and metabolite profiling of developing highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) fruit indicates transcriptional regulation of flavonoid metabolism and activation of abscisic acid metabolism. Plant Physiology 158: 200-224