🌱 Professor Wolfgang Busch, first author Kaizhen Zhong, and team just discovered a gene that protects plants from zinc toxicity. Amplifying this pathway will help Salk develop crops that are more resilient to the rising levels of heavy metals in our soil. “The cell wall’s structure is like a scaffold that can store zinc away from the rest of the plant, and if the TBR gene is active, plants can store more zinc away,” explains senior author Wolfgang Busch, professor, executive director of the Harnessing Plants Initiative, and Hess Chair in Plant Science at Salk. “What’s interesting about this simple process is that it can be the difference between life and death for a plant exposed to toxic conditions.” A cell wall’s capacity to store zinc is largely dependent on a process called pectin methylesterification—a process that alters the structure of the spongy pectin molecules inside cell walls so that they can absorb more zinc. To better understand this, the researchers performed a genome-wide association study to identify plant genes associated with increased pectin methylesterification. “We found that TBR allele variants influence changes in pectin methylesterification and help determine a plant’s ability to tolerate higher zinc levels,” says first author Kaizhen Zhong, a former visiting graduate student in Busch’s lab. “Knowing this is really important because we can now potentially introduce or activate this gene in other plants to create crops that are more resilient to environmental changes.” https://lnkd.in/g82Qi_jT
Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Research Services
La Jolla, CA 27,388 followers
The Power of Science.
About us
About the Salk Institute for Biological Studies Unlocking the secrets of life itself is the driving force behind the Salk Institute. Our team of world-class, award-winning scientists pushes the boundaries of knowledge in areas such as neuroscience, cancer research, aging, immunobiology, plant biology, computational biology, and more. Founded by Jonas Salk, developer of the first safe and effective polio vaccine, the Institute is an independent, nonprofit research organization and architectural landmark: small by choice, intimate by nature, and fearless in the face of any challenge. Learn more at www.salk.edu.
- Website
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http://www.salk.edu/careers
External link for Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- Industry
- Research Services
- Company size
- 501-1,000 employees
- Headquarters
- La Jolla, CA
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 1960
- Specialties
- Molecular Biology, Genetics, Neuroscience, Plant Biology, Scientific Research, Cancer Research, Computational Biology, Immune System Biology, and Infectious Disease
Locations
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Primary
10010 North Torrey Pines Rd
La Jolla, CA 92037, US
Employees at Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Updates
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Congratulations to Salk Professor Joanne Chory! She has been recently selected by the Wolf Foundation to receive a 2024 Wolf Prize in the field of agriculture for her "key discoveries on plant developmental biology of relevance for crop improvements.” The award is endowed annually to scientists and artists worldwide for their “outstanding achievements in advancing science and the arts for the betterment of humanity.” https://lnkd.in/grNqaA2B #PlantBiology #ClimateChange #PlantScience
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🎶 Tickets Now on Sale for Symphony at Salk! 🎶 Join us on August 17th for an enchanting evening celebrating Salk’s Healthy Aging Initiative. Enjoy a spectacular concert under the stars featuring the San Diego Symphony and special guest artists David Foster and Katharine McPhee. Tickets include a champagne reception and dinner in Salk's iconic courtyard. Don’t miss this opportunity to support groundbreaking research and engage with valued supporters. Secure your tickets today and be part of a memorable night at the Salk Institute! 👉 https://symphony.salk.edu #SymphonyAtSalk #HealthyAging #SalkInstitute #SupportResearch #ConcertUnderTheStars #SanDiegoSymphony #DavidFoster #KatharineMcPhee
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📢 The Salk Institute is proud to announce the launch of our Neuroimmunology Initiative, thanks to a generous $20M gift from the NOMIS Foundation! This initiative will delve into the vital crosstalk between the immune and nervous systems, exploring how this interaction influences health and disease. Leading this effort are Professors Susan Kaech, Nicola Allen, Axel Nimmerjahn, and Diana Hargreaves. Discover how this groundbreaking research could pave the way for new therapeutic interventions for conditions like Alzheimer’s, ALS, long COVID, and cancer. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gA3HzfES #Neuroimmunology #ScientificResearch #SalkInstitute
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Today, we celebrate Juneteenth—a day of jubilation and reflection 🎉 Let’s celebrate freedom, remember the past, and continue to work towards a future of equality and justice for all. Thank you to the Black Association at Salk (BAS) for the thoughtful celebration on campus yesterday. #Juneteenth #DiversityInScience #EquityAndInclusion #SalkInstitute
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Congratulations to Salk Assistant Professor Jesse Dixon for being named a 2024 Pew Biomedical Scholar by The Pew Charitable Trusts! He will receive $300,000 over the next four years to support his research exploring how our genomes are organized and how their disorganization can lead to disease. We can’t wait to see where your research leads. 🤩 https://lnkd.in/gWh-jNJN
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Thank you Mayor Todd Gloria, Salk Associate Professor Dmitry Lyumkis and DEI Director Jálin B. Johnson for helping to kick off Pride Month at Salk with this week's Science & Justice Lecture Series. Your discussion on the intersection of research and social justice, particularly as it relates to HIV and AIDS, was enlightening and impactful. Salk is dedicated to fostering equity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging for every member of the Salk community and beyond. Learn more at https://www.salk.edu/dei
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A short excerpt from one of the latest in our "From Then to When" video series, features Salk Professor Susan Kaech. Kaech is an immunologist who was recently elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. From her roots in Olympia, Washington, to leading groundbreaking research, her journey is a testament to perseverance and passion. Her work delves deep into understanding how our immune system functions to protect us from infections and diseases like cancer. Her lab has made significant strides in uncovering the genetic and biochemical frameworks for long-term memory T-cells, crucial for developing advanced therapies and vaccines. Watch the video and view more in the series: https://lnkd.in/gpmh7Bzs
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Researchers in the Hargreaves lab have made significant strides in understanding how our immune system combats invaders! Researchers have discovered that cooperative proteins play a crucial role in identifying and attacking harmful pathogens. This groundbreaking work could pave the way for new treatments and therapies to enhance our immune responses and create inflammation-mediating therapeutics. 👉 Check out the full news release to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gmpJCdZA #Immunology #Research #Biotechnology #Health #Science #Innovation #SalkInstitute
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Salk is proud to be a part of the Academic Campus at the BIO International Convention this week. Translating our discoveries into impactful industry and clinical applications is one of the most exciting privileges of the basic research we do at Salk. #BIO2024 If you want to hear more about what our scientists are up to, be sure to connect with our Office of Technology Development staff Ngoc-Ha Nguyen, Richard S., and Taneashia Morrell, Esq. You can also check out talks from Salk alums Kate Rubins and Mira Chaurushiya on June 4, and Kevin Curran and Tari Suprapto on June 5. https://lnkd.in/gTY-B6Xj #Biotechnology #BIOInternationalConvention #BIO2024 #AcademicResearch #TechTransfer #ClinicalApplications #IndustryCollaboration #SalkInstitute #InnovativeScience