Recognizing Plant Physiology authors: Ansul Lokdarshi

Ansul Lokdarshi, first author of ErbB-3 BINDING PROTEIN 1 Regulates Translation and Counteracts RETINOBLASTOMA RELATED to Maintain the Root Meristem

Current Position: Post-Doctoral Research Associate, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Education: Ph.D. Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology (University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA), MSc and BSc in Biotechnology (Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Maharashtra, India)

Non-scientific interests: Building electronic gadgets, indoor gardening, video games, cooking

Brief bio: During my Ph.D. work on the Arabidopsis calmodulin-like proteins in mediating responses towards low oxygen (hypoxia) stress, I developed a keen interest in the area of RNA homeostasis and its role in defining plant physiology under dynamic environments. As a Post-doctoral research associate (Albrecht von Arnim lab), I am working in two independent research areas that revolve around the common theme of mRNA translational control. My first project explores how the pan-eukaryotic protein kinase, GCN2, contributes to translational control in plants by environmental stress and nutritional cues. My second project is an ongoing international collaboration to investigate the balance between cell growth, proliferation and protein synthesis in the plant root meristem. We have discovered that the Arabidopsis homolog of potato ErbB-3 Binding Protein 1 (EBP1), mediates ribosome biogenesis and balances the cell cycle by the TOR-RBR signaling pathway for the maintenance of root meristem activity. I plan to advance these fundamental discoveries and create translational opportunities for improved crop resilience and agricultural productivity.