Karl Kramer

Adjunct Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry
Research Chemist
Grain Marketing and Production Research Center
 

Insect biochemistry and physiology: cuticle sclerotization and molting, chitin and catecholamine metabolism, digestive enzymes, stored product insect pest control, and biopesticide development in transgenic plants.

B.S. 1964, Purdue University

Ph.D. 1971, University of Arizona

Phone: 785-776-2711

Fax: 785-532-5584

Email:  kjkramer@ksu.edu

Office: ARS USGMRL

Dr. Kramer is a biochemist internationally recognized for his comprehensive research program investigating insect cuticle structure, chitin metabolism, tanning chemistry, neuropeptides, molting, digestion, and the use of biopesticides and insect growth regulators for insect pest control. Results of his research have had major impact in insect molecular science and also preharvest and postharvest insect pest management programs including the development of insect growth regulators, biopesticides, transgenic plants and biological control agents by the agricultural biotechnology industry. Until his retirement in 2003, he was a research chemist at the ARS-USDA Grain Marketing and Production Research Center  and Adjunct Professor of Biochemistry at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas.  Presently, he is a collaboratior/consultant at GMPRC and Adjunct Professor  Emeritus of Biochemistry at KSU.

For additional information about Dr. Kramer's research program including a complete listing of publications from which reprints can be requested, please click here:  http://bru.gmprc.ksu.edu/sci/kramer/

Selected Publications

Flinn, P.W., K.J. Kramer, J.E. Throne, and T.D. Morgan. 2006. Protection of stored maize from insect pests using a two-component biological control method consisting of a hymenopteran parasitoid, Theocolax elegans, and transgenic avidin maize powder. J. Stored Prod. Res. 42: 218-225.

Arakane, Y., S. Muthukrishnan, K.J. Kramer, C.A. Specht, Y. Tomoyasu, M.D. Lorenzen, M. Kanost, and R.W. Beeman. 2005. The Tribolium chitin synthase genes TcCHS1 and TcCHS2 are specialized for synthesis of epidermal cuticle and midgut peritrophic matrix. Insect Molec. Biol. 14: 453-463

Arakane, Y., S. Muthukrishnan, R.W. Beeman, M.R. Kanost, and K.J. Kramer. 2005. Laccase 2 is the phenoloxidase gene required for beetle cuticle tanning. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 102:11337-11342.

Bolognesi, R., Y. Arakane, S. Muthukrishnan, K.J. Kramer, W.R. Terra, and C. Ferreira. 2005. Sequences of cDNAs and expression of genes encoding chitin synthase and chitinase in the midgut of Spodoptera frugiperda. Insect Biochem. Molec. Biol. 35: 1249-1259.

Hogenkamp, D.G., Y. Arakane, L. Zimoch, H. Merzendorfer, K.J. Kramer, R.W. Beeman, M.R. Kanost, C.A. Specht, and S. Muthukrishnan. 2005. Chitin synthase genes in Manduca sexta: characterization of a gut-specific transcript and differential tissue expression of alternatively spliced mRNAs during development. Insect Biochem. Molec. Biol. 35: 529-540.

Kizek, R., M. Masarik, K.J. Kramer, D. Potesil, M. Bailey, J.A. Howard, B. Klejdus, R. Mikelova, V. Adam, L. Trnkova, and F. Jelen. 2005. An analysis of avidin, biotin and their interaction at attomole levels by voltammetric and chromatographic techniques. Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 381: 1167-1178.

Petrek, J., J. Vitecek, H. Vlasinova, R. Kizek, K.J. Kramer, V. Adam, B. Klejdus, and L. Havel. 2005. Application of computer imaging, stripping voltammetry and mass spectrometry to study the effect of lead (Pb-EDTA) on the growth and viability of early somatic embryos of Norway spruce (Picea abies/L./Karst.). Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 383: 576-586.

Yoza, K.,T. Imamura, K.J. Kramer, T.D. Morgan, S. Nakamura, K. Akiyama, S. Kawasaki, F. Takaiwa, and K. Ohtsubo. 2005. Avidin expressed in transgenic rice confers resistance to the stored-product insect pests Tribolium confusum and Sitotroga  cerealella. Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 69:966-971.

Zimoch, L., D.G. Hogenkamp, K.J. Kramer, S. Muthukrishnan, and H. Merzendorfer. 2005. Regulation of chitin synthesis in the larval midgut of Manduca sexta. Insect Biochem. Molec. Biol. 35: 515-527.

Kramer, K.J. and Muthukrishnan, S. 2005. Chitin metabolism in insects. In :L.I. Gilbert, K. Iatrou and S. Gill, eds., Comprehensive Molecular Insect Science. Vol. 4, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chapter 3. Elsevier Press, Oxford, UK, p. 111-144.