J. LYNN ZIMMERMAN

Professor
Vice Provost for Academic Initiatives
Ph.D., University of California, Irvine, 1979
Postdoctoral, Harvard University

zimmerma@umbc.edu; FAX (410) 455-3875; Voice (410) 455-3486

Research Interests

The primary research focus of my laboratory is understanding and manipulating stress tolerance in higher plants using carrot cells and embryos as a model system. Using the tools of biotechnology, we have created carrot cells and plants that both over-express and under-express heat shock genes, and have shown that these cells are more thermotolerant and less thermotolerant, respectively, than control cells. Collaborative experiments have also shown that we can use the gene constructs we have made to transfer enhanced thermotolerance to other dicot plant species.

We are currently investigating the molecular basis for this change in thermotolerance in the genetically engineered cells and plants by determining where the protein corresponding to the transgene is localized in the cell, what it is associating with inside the cell and how these factors change before and after heat stress. We are also evaluating if this technology can be extended to other important crop species.

In addition, we continue our interest in the consequence of heat stress to plant embryo and seed development. It has long been recognized that seed crop yield is significantly reduced by exposure of the plant to high temperature at the time of early embryo development. We are investigating the molecular basis for this disruption in development by studying the impact of heat shock on the transcription and translation of genes associated with plant embryogenesis.

Selected Publications

Apuya, N.R., Yodegari, R., Fischer, R.L., Harada, J.J., Zimmerman, J.L. and Goldberg, R.B. (2001). The Arabidopsis embryo mutant schlepperless has a defect in the Chaperonin-60 gene. Plant Physiol. 126: 717-730.

Malik, M.K., Slovin, J.P., Hwang, C-H. and Zimmerman, J.L. (1999). Modified expression of a carrot small heat shock protein gene, Hsp17.7, results in increased or decreased thermotolerance. The Plant Journal, 20: 89-100.

Zimmerman, J.L., Slovin, J.P. and Malik, M.K. (1999). Patent # 5,922,929, "Thermotolerance Enhancing Protein. United States Patent Office.

Lin, X.L. and Zimmerman, J.L. (1999). Expression of a globulin-like protein gene, Gea8, in somatic and zygotic embryos. J. Experimental Botany, 50:1139-1147.

Lin, X.L., Hwang, G.-J., and Zimmerman, J.L. (1996). Isolation and characterization of a diverse set of genes from carrot somatic embryos. Plant Physiology 112:1365-1374.