Ana Paula Alonso
The Ohio State University, USA
Biography
Ana Paula Alonso is Associate Professor in the Dept. of Molecular Genetics, and Director of the Targeted Metabolomics Laboratory at The Ohio State University. A major focus of the Alonso Lab is the regulation of carbon partitioning through central metabolism. In plants, central metabolism carries carbon to the production of valuable storage compounds, such as sugars, proteins, starch, oils, and cellulose. Therefore understanding carbon partitioning is of fundamental relevance to plant fitness, fruit quality, seed yield and germination, and to designing novel approaches for breeding and genetic engineering of crops. For this purpose, the Alonso Lab combines metabolomics and 13C-based metabolic flux analysis - association of modern biochemistry with mathematical modeling. Current research aims at: Enhancing the flow of carbon towards the production of unusual fatty acids for biofuel and industrial applications and understanding the effect of biotic and abiotic stresses on plant metabolism.
Abstract
Abstract : A systems approach to improve oil synthesis in alternative crops