Recognizing Plant Physiology authors: Olubu Adeoye Adiji

Olubu Adeoye Adiji, first author of UGT84F9 is the major flavonoid UDP-glucuronosyltransferase in Medicago truncatula

Current Position: Postdoctoral, BioDiscovery Institute, University of North Texas, Denton TX

Education: Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton TX, USA

Non-scientific Interests: Soccer, disc golf, music

Brief bio: I joined Professor Richard A. Dixon’s research group at the Biodiscovery Institute, University of North Texas, in 2016 for my Ph.D. program. My Ph.D. research focused on the chemical modification of selected plant natural products, namely the flavonoids. We were interested in glucuronidating/glycosylating these molecules to produce phase II metabolites that positively impact human health such as improvement of cognitive function and neuroprotection. Thus, we utilized molecular biology, genomics, biochemistry and bioanalytic approaches to identify and characterize new glucuronosyltransferases/glycosyltransferase from the model legume Medicago truncatula and study their activities for flavonoid glucuronidation.

I previously obtained a B.S in Microbiology from the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria; M.S in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of North Texas and just recently completed my PhD program in December 2020, also from the University of North Texas. I am now transitioning into a postdoc position at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas TX, in the Laboratory of Dr. Matthew Parker to study mechanisms regulating DNA replication initiator action in normal and cancer cells.