David Chevalier
Office: 221 Harned Hall
Phone: (662) 325-8123
Email: djc164@msstate.edu
(website)
Education
B.S. University of Tours
Ph.D. University of Zurich
Postdoctoral Research
Technical University of Munich
University of Missouri
Statement of Research Interests
My research is focused on the understanding of the molecular mechanism regulating signaling in plants. Signaling usually involved multi-step signal transduction. A common way cells relay molecular messages is by reversible protein phosphorylation. Protein kinases add phosphates to their target protein(s) and protein phosphatases remove them.
We are using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and a combination of forward and reverse genetics and biochemistry to determine the function of genes involved in signaling. We are specifically interested in two different types of signaling molecules:
- receptor like kinases: these are transmembrane proteins with an extracellular part that can binds a ligand and an extracellular kinase domain and are used to transduce external messages into the cell.
- phosphobinding domains: these are domains that specially bind to phosphorylated peptides.
Recent Publications
Eyueboglu, B., Pfister, K., Haberer, G., Chevalier, D., Fuchs, A., Mayer, K.F.X. and Schneitz, K. (2007). Molecular characterisation of the STRUBBELIG-RECEPTOR FAMILY of genes encoding putative leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases in Arabidopsis thaliana. BMC Plant Biology 7: 16.
Morris, E.R.*, Chevalier, D.*, and Walker, J.C. (2006). DAWDLE, a Forkhead-Associated Domain Gene, Regulates Multiple Aspects of Plant Development. Plant Physiol 141: 932-941
* co-first author
Chevalier, D., Batoux, M., Fulton, L., Pfister, K., Yadav, R.K., Schellenberg, M., Schneitz, K. (2005). STRUBBELIG defines a receptor kinase-mediated signaling pathway regulating organ development in Arabidopsis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 102: 9074-9079.
Schiefthaler, U., Balasubramanian, S., Sieber, P., Chevalier, D., Wisman, E. and Schneitz, K. (1999). Molecular analysis of NOZZLE, a gene involved in pattern formation and early sporogenesis during sex organ development in Arabidopsis thaliana. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96: 11664-11669.