Terri Long

Bio

Anemia induced by iron deficiency is one of the most prevalent nutritional disorders in the world. Most people obtain nutritional iron predominantly from plants. Our research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that plants use to uptake, transport, and utilize iron, and respond to low iron conditions.

We use genomics, molecular biology and genetics to identify root-specific transcriptional responses that regulate physiological alterations associated with iron deprivation in the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. Our work resulted in the first whole-genome, high-resolution transcriptional profile of iron deficiency in the root, and led to the identification of two regulatory genes that play a key role in how plants respond to low iron conditions.

Our continued efforts are focused on identifying additional iron deficiency response regulators and their corresponding gene targets, with the long-term goal of elucidating gene regulatory networks involved in plant iron homeostasis. Ultimately, this information may lead to the generation of crops with increased nutritional content and increased yield when grown in poor soils.

Courses Taught:

• Plant Physiology (PB 421)

Area(s) of Expertise

Molecular Biology of Plant Nutritional Homeostasis

Publications

• The Black American experience: Answering the global challenge of broadening participation in STEM/agriculture , PLANT CELL (2024)
• Cellular clarity: a logistic regression approach to identify root epidermal regulators of iron deficiency response , BMC GENOMICS (2023)
• BTS Is a Negative Regulator for the Cellular Energy Level and the Expression of Energy Metabolism-Related Genes Encoded by Two Organellar Genomes in Leaf Tissues , MOLECULES AND CELLS (2022)
• POPEYE intercellular localization mediates cell-specific iron deficiency responses , PLANT PHYSIOLOGY (2022)
• A hybrid model connecting regulatory interactions with stem cell divisions in the root , Quantitative Plant Biology (2021)
• Broadening the impact of plant science through innovative, integrative, and inclusive outreach , PLANT DIRECT (2021)
• Solving the puzzle of Fe homeostasis by integrating molecular, mathematical, and societal models , CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY (2021)
• BioVision Tracker: A semi-automated image analysis software for spatiotemporal gene expression tracking in Arabidopsis thaliana , Methods in Cell Biology (2020)
• Computational solutions for modeling and controlling plant response to abiotic stresses: a review with focus on iron deficiency , Current Opinion in Plant Biology (2020)
• Iron homeostasis and plant immune responses: Recent insights and translational implications , Journal of Biological Chemistry (2020)

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