Title: "Use of computer algorithms to discover novel regulatory elements of a
plant biosynthetic pathway"

Speaker: Eric Johnson, Research Molecular Biologist, USDA.

Abstract

Corn farmers suffer crop losses in some years due to contamination of molds
that are harmful to livestock and humans. Extensive research has determined
that increasing levels of insect resistance in corn usually reduces the levels
of mold contamination. Our research goal is to develop new sources of insect
resistance for Midwest corn that reduces insect damage and mold contamination.
Corn, as well as wheat, naturally produces a biochemical during its juvenile
life stage that is deleterious to insect development. Computer algorithms
developed by two faculty members of Old Dominion University have helped
identify DNA elements that are present in the promoters of a select group of
corn and wheat genes responsible for the production of the anti-insect
biochemical. Identification of the mechanisms of how this biochemical is
regulated in these crops could one day lead to the creation of plants that
produce the anti-insect biochemical throughout the plant?s life.

Biography

Eric Johnson received a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and
then completed M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Washington State University. He
worked as a postdoctoral scientist at Washington State University, the Kumho
Life Science and Environmental Science Laboratory in South Korea, and finally
with the USDA ARS in Peoria, Illinois. His work in Korea contributed towards
the development of an orange-colored Petunia flower line through the targeted
mutagenesis of an enzyme involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis; this work
resulted in three US patents. Eric accepted a permanent position with ARS at
Peoria in 2003 as a Research Molecular Biologist. His main research emphasis
centers on developing new sources of insect resistance for Midwest corn. Eric
is very interested in utilizing diverse plant biochemicals for insect
resistance. His favorite work to date involved the demonstration that
anthocyanins in both Petunia and maize can slow the development of some
insects. He is also interested in identifying novel genes from crops that could
potentially be used in pest management.