S.
Muthukrishnan
S.
Muthukrishnan
University Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry
Characterization of enzymes and genes involved in chitin metabolism and targeting them for insect control; enhancing disease and insect resistance of plants by genetic engineering.
B.S. 1963,
Madras University
M.S. 1965, Madras University
Ph.D. 1970, Indian Institute of Science
Phone:
785-532-6939
Fax: 785-532-7278
Email: smk@ksu.edu
Office:
173 Chalmers
The main focus of my laboratory is the identification and characterization of major genes involved in the biosynthesis, assembly and degradation of the structural polysaccharide chitin in insects. We have identified more than 30 genes of chitin metabolism in the genome of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, and are utilizing RNA interference to elucidate the function of each of these genes. We are also studying the role of laccases and other phenoloxidases in cuticle tanning in collaboration with Professors Michael Kanost, Karl Kramer and Richard Beeman. We are also studying the role of neuropeptide hormones in insect development in collaboration with Professor Yoonseong Park.
My other interests include a) identification and characterization of genes involved in plant defense against microbial pathogens, b) plant transformation protocols for introduction of defense genes into crop plants, and c) bioassays of transgenic crop plants (wheat, sorghum, corn, soybean) for resistance to fungi and insect pests.
Selected Publications
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
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.
Arakane, Y., Hogenkamp, D. G., Zhu, Y-C., Kramer, K.J., Specht, C. A., Beeman,R. W., Kanost, M. R., and Muthukrishnan, S. (2004). Characterization of two chitin synthase genes of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, and alternate exon usage in one of the genes during development. Insect Biochem Molec. Biol. 34: 291-304
Zhu, Q., Deng, Y., Vanka, P., Brown, S. J., Muthukrishnan, S., Kramer, K. J.
(2004) Computational identification of novel chitinase-like proteins in the
Drosophila melanogaster genome. Bioinformatics, 20: 161- 169
Anand, A., Schmelz, E. A. and Muthukrishnan, S. (2003) Development of a
lesion-mimic phenotype in a transgenic wheat line over-expressing genes for
pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins is dependent on salicylic acid concentration.
Mol. Plant Microbe Interactions. 16: 916-925.
Anand, A., Zhou, T., Trick H, N., Gill, B. S., Bockus, W. S., Muthukrishnan, S.
(2003) Greenhouse and field testing of transgenic wheat plants stably expressing
genes for thaumatin-like protein, chitinase and glucanase against Fusarium
graminearum. J Exp Bot. 54: 1101-1111.