Alison’s research is on starch and sucrose metabolism in the model plant Arabidopsis and in crops including cereals and potatoes.
Alison’s lab investigates the genetic, biochemical and molecular control of starch degradation in leaves and storage organs, and how this is coordinated with plant growth over the day-night cycle and with germination and sprouting.
Lab members also explore how starch granules are formed, and factors that determine the rate, nature and amount of starch accumulation in cereal grains.
Selected Publications
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Andriotis V. M. E., Smith A. M. (2019)The plastidial pentose phosphate pathway is essential for postglobular embryo development in Arabidopsis.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (116)Publisher's version: 0027-8424
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Flis A., Mengin V., Ivakov A. A., Mugford S. T., Hubberten H. M., Encke B., Krohn N., Höhne M., Feil R., Hoefgen R., Lunn J. E., Millar A. J., Smith A., Sulpice R., Stitt M. (2019)Multiple circadian clock outputs regulate diel turnover of carbon and nitrogen reserves.Plant, Cell & Environment (42)Publisher's version: 0140-7791
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Seung D., Smith A. M. (2018)Starch granule initiation and morphogenesis-progress in Arabidopsis and cereals.Journal of Experimental Botany (70)Publisher's version: 0022-0957