Venezia by PVII

Kendal Hirschi, Ph.D.

Professor of Pediatrics
Professor of Human and Molecular Genetics
Baylor College of Medicine

kendalh@bcm.tmc.edu

Hirschi Lab

2010 Project Site

VFIC Lab

Additional Appointments:


Associate Director of Research
Vegetables and Fruit Improvement Center
Texas A&M University, Department of Horticulture and Molecular and
Environmental Plant Sciences


Adjunct Associate Professor
Rice University Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Member of The Center for Plant Science at Rice University

Education:


B.S. Biochemistry - University of Arizona
M.S. Microbiology - Arizona State University
Ph.D. Plant Pathology - University of Arizona
Helen Hay Whitney Postdoctoral Fellow- Whitehead Institute

Research:

Plant Ion Homeostasis


We study model systems biology in plants, yeast and mice. Furthermore, we perform translational research related to agricultural improvement. At the molecular level, our goals are to understand the structure, biological function, and regulation of transporter proteins that control trafficking into and out of the vacuole. Many of our molecular approaches use the standard genetic “tool kit”. Another major goal in our group is to learn how to manipulate the expression and function of these transporters to increase the nutritional content of crop plants, improve plant productivity, and cleanse polluted soils. For this second objective, we collaborate with faculty at the Children’s Nutrition Research here at Baylor and faculty at the Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center at Texas A&M. Obtaining help from nutritional scientists, we perform clinical trials addressing how changes in plant architecture alter nutrient bioavailability.

Using a combination of approaches, we are attempting to characterize the expression and physiological function of these transporters. Additionally, we will use these ion transporters as bait" in a series of genetic approaches in yeast and plants to identify the molecules that interact with these transporters and, thus, regulate ion homeostasis. Once we have characterized and identified the ensemble of ion transporters and their regulatory molecules, we can begin to manipulate ion storage, signal transduction events, and the environmental constraints of traditional agricultural practices.

Presentation on Increased Calcium Bioavailability in Genetically Modified Foods: Analysis Using Mice and Human Feeding Regimes
Requires QuickTime software from Apple (free).


Downloadable list of news stories about the latest calcium transport activity in carrots. (carrotstories.xls)


Representative publications:


Jay Morris, Keli M. Hawthorne, Tim Hotze, Steven A. Abrams, and Kendal D. Hirschi Nutritional impact of elevated calcium transport activity in carrots PNAS published January 17, 2008, 10.1073/pnas.0709005105 (Agricultural Sciences).

Morris J, Nakata P, McConn M, Brock A, Hirschi KD (2007) Increased calcium bioavailability in mice fed genetically engineered plants lacking calcium oxalate (Cover) Plant Mol. Biology 64:613-618.

Cheng, N.H., Liu, J,Z., Brock A., Nelson, R.A., Hirschi KD (2006) AtGRXcp, an Arabidopsis chloroplastic glutaredoxin, is critical for protection against protein oxidative damage. J. Biol. Chem. 281:26280-26288.

Shigaki, T. and Hirschi, KD (2006). Diverse Functions and Molecular Properties Emerging for CAX Cation/H+ Exchangers in Plants. Plant Biol. 8: 419-429.

Shigaki T, Rees I, Nakhleh L, Hirschi KD (2006). Identification of the three distinct phylogenetic groups of CAX cation/proton antiporters. J Mol Evol. 63:815-825.

Park S, Li J, Pittman JK, Berkowitz GA, Yang H, Undurraga S, Morris J, Hirschi KD, Gaxiola RA (2005). Up-regulation of a H+-pyrophosphatase (H+-PPase) as a strategy to engineer drought-resistant crop plants. PNAS. 102: 18830-18835.

Park S, Cheng NH, Pittman JK, Yoo KS, Park J, Smith RH, Hirschi KD (2005). Increased Calcium Levels and Prolonged Shelf Life in Tomatoes Expressing Arabidopsis H+/Ca2+ Transporters. Plant Phys. 139: 1194-12061.

Cheng NH, Pittman JK, Shigaki T, Lachmansingh J, Leclere S, Lahner B, Salt DE, Hirschi KD (2005). Functional Association of Arabidopsis CAX1 and CAX3 Is Required for Normal Growth and Ion Homeostasis. Plant. Physiol. 138:2048-2060.

Shigaki T, Barkla BJ, Miranda-Vergara MC, Zhao J, Pantoja O, Hirschi KD (2005). Identification of a crucial histidine involved in metal transport activity in the Arabidopsis cation/H+exchanger CAX1. J. Biol. Chem. 280:30136-30142.

Park S, Kang TS, Kim CK, Han JS, Kim S, Smith RH, Pike LM, Hirschi KD (2005). Genetic Manipulation for Enhancing Calcium Content in Potato Tuber. J. Agric. Food Chem. 53: 5598-5603.

*See Dr. Hirschi's CV for a complete list of publications