Prof Enrico Coen
Project Leader
Cell and Developmental Biology
How do small groups of cells in microscopic buds turn themselves into the diverse flower and leaf shapes we see around us? To answer this question we need to know how genes and growth interact to create tissue shapes during development, and how this process varies to produce such a remarkable range of forms.
We use a highly integrative approach that combines molecular, genetic, imaging, population, ecological and computational approaches to address this problem, applying them to model systems such as Arabidopsis and Antirrhinum.
Through collaborations with Andrew Bangham, Veronica Grieneisen and Stan Marée, we have been able to arrive at mechanistic models for how complex tissue shapes may be generated through combinatorial interactions between genes, polarity and local growth properties. We also collaborate with population geneticist Nick Barton to understand the evolution of complex traits in natural populations and species of Antirrhinum.
Contact
enrico.coen@jic.ac.ukSelected Publications
An intracellular partitioning-based framework for tissue cell polarity in plants and animals.
Development 140 (10) p2061-74
Publisher’s version: 10.1242/dev.062984
JAGGED Controls Arabidopsis Petal Growth and Shape by Interacting with a Divergent Polarity Field.
PLoS Biology 11 (4) pe1001550
Publisher’s version: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001550
Generation of leaf shape through early patterns of growth and tissue polarity.
Science 335 (6072) p1092-6
Publisher’s version: 10.1126/science.1214678
Generation of spatial patterns through cell polarity switching
Science 333 (6048) p1436-1440
Recent Publications
A subcellular tug of war involving three MYB-like proteins underlies a molecular antagonism in Antirrhinum flower asymmetry.
Plant Journal 10 p12225
Publisher’s version: 10.1111/tpj.12225
Genetic control of organ shape and tissue polarity
PLOS Biology 8 (11) pe1000537
Quantitative control of organ shape by combinatorial gene activity
PLOS Biology 8 (11) pe1000538
Cryptic variation between species and the basis of hybrid performance
PLOS Biology 8 (7) pe1000429
Evolution of allometry in Antirrhinum
The Plant Cell 21 p2999-3007
Enrico Coen
- Dr Annabel Whibley Postdoctoral Scientist
- Xana Verweij Postdoctoral Scientist
- Hugo Tavares Researcher
- Dr Paul Southam Postdoctoral Scientist
- Annis Richardson Postgraduate Student
- Dr Jake Newman Postdoctoral Scientist
- Karen Lee Research Assistant
- Richard Kennaway Senior Scientist
- Samantha Fox Research Assistant
- Mabon Elis Postgraduate Student
- Lucy Copsey Research Assistant
- Claire Bushell Postgraduate Student
- Dr Des Bradley Research Assistant
- Katie Abley Postgraduate Student
- Dr Christopher Whitewoods Postdoctoral Scientist
Awards
European Molecular Biology Organisation Young Investigator committee member, 2015-18
Elected President of the Genetics Society, 2012
Dawin Medal, 2004
Commander of the British Empire, 2003
Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Science, 2001
Fellow of the Royal Society, 1998
Linnean Gold Medal, 1997
European Molecular Biology Organisation Medal, 1996
Science for Art Prize, LVMH Moet Hennessy, France, 1996
Elected Member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation, 1991
Media
For media enquiries, please contact the JIC communications team 01603 450962, jic.communications@jic.ac.uk
Research Areas
