Dr Stuart Casson
School of Biosciences
Senior Lecturer
+44 114 222 4235
Full contact details
School of Biosciences
Firth Court
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN
- Profile
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Career History
- 2013 - present: Lecturer; School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield
- 2007 - 2013: Postdoctoral Research Assistant; University of Bristol
- 2000 - 2007: Postdoctoral Research Assistant; Durham University
- 1996 - 2000: PhD; Durham University
- Qualifications
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Honours and distinctions
- 2008 Federation of European Societies of Plant Biology (FESPB) Young Scientist Award
- Research interests
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My laboratory is interested in understanding the mechanisms that regulate plant development and in particular, how environmental signals regulate core developmental pathways.
For this purpose I am using stomatal development as a model. Stomata are microscopic pores on the surface of leaves that regulate gas exchange between the plants and their environment, allowing the uptake of carbon dioxide for photosynthesis whilst restricting water loss.
This ability to control their gas exchange has allowed plants to colonise a number of environments and was arguably a crucial evolutionary step in the colonization of the land by higher plants.
My laboratory is interested in understanding the mechanisms that regulate plant development and in particular, how environmental signals regulate core developmental pathways. For this purpose I am using stomatal development as a model.
Stomata are microscopic pores on the surface of leaves that regulate gas exchange between the plants and their environment, allowing the uptake of carbon dioxide for photosynthesis whilst restricting water loss.
This ability to control their gas exchange has allowed plants to colonise a number of environments and was arguably a crucial evolutionary step in the colonization of the land by higher plants.
Stomata can regulate plant gas exchange through short term changes in stomatal aperture. However, my research is focused on a longer term mechanism whereby plants adapt to changes in their environment by regulating their stomatal development, resulting in new leaves with altered stomatal numbers.
Light and CO2 are particularly important in regulating these changes in stomatal development and we are beginning to identify the key components that regulate stomatal development in response to these signals.
Understanding how these environmental signals interact to regulate stomatal development is vital if we are to accurately model plant water use and performance in a changing environment
- Publications
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Show: Featured publications All publications
Featured publications
Journal articles
- phytochrome B Is Required for Light-Mediated Systemic Control of Stomatal Development. Current Biology, 24(11), 1216-1221. View this article in WRRO
- Putting the brakes on: abscisic acid as a central environmental regulator of stomatal development.. New Phytol, 202(2), 376-391.
- Connecting stomatal development and physiology. New Phytologist, 201(4), 1079-1082.
- POLARIS, 40-45.
- Developmental Priming of Stomatal Sensitivity to Abscisic Acid by Leaf Microclimate. Current Biology.
- GSK3-like kinases integrate brassinosteroid signaling and stomatal development.. Sci Signal, 5(233), pe30.
- Land plants acquired active stomatal control early in their evolutionary history.. Curr Biol, 21(12), 1030-1035.
- Environmental regulation of stomatal development.. Curr Opin Plant Biol, 13(1), 90-95.
- MERISTEM-DEFECTIVE, an RS domain protein, is required for the correct meristem patterning and function in Arabidopsis.. Plant J, 57(5), 857-869.
- phytochrome B and PIF4 Regulate Stomatal Development in Response to Light Quantity. CURR BIOL, 19(3), 229-234.
- Laser-capture microdissection to study global transcriptional changes during plant embryogenesis.. Methods Mol Biol, 427, 111-120.
- Influence of environmental factors on stomatal development. NEW PHYTOL, 178(1), 9-23.
- Intercellular peptide signals regulate plant meristematic cell fate decisions.. Sci Signal, 1(49), pe53.
- Transcriptional profiling of the Arabidopsis embryo.. Plant Physiol, 143(2), 924-940.
- The POLARIS Peptide, 23-27.
- The POLARIS peptide of Arabidopsis regulates auxin transport and root growth via effects on ethylene signaling.. Plant Cell, 18(11), 3058-3072.
- The turnip mutant of Arabidopsis reveals that LEAFY COTYLEDON1 expression mediates the effects of auxin and sugars to promote embryonic cell identity.. Plant Physiol, 142(2), 526-541.
- KNAT6 gene of Arabidopsis is expressed in roots and is required for correct lateral root formation. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, 54(1), 71-84.
- Genes and signalling in root development. NEW PHYTOLOGIST, 158(1), 11-38.
- The POLARIS gene of Arabidopsis encodes a predicted peptide required for correct root growth and leaf vascular patterning.. Plant Cell, 14(8), 1705-1721.
- Peptides: new signalling molecules in plants.. Trends Plant Sci, 7(2), 78-83.
All publications
Journal articles
- STN7 is not essential for developmental acclimation of Arabidopsis to light intensity. The Plant Journal.
- In-planta transient transformation of avocado (Persea americana) by vacuum agroinfiltration of aerial plant parts. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC), 152(3), 635-646.
- The origin and evolution of stomata. Current Biology, 32(11), R539-R553.
- Physio-biochemical responses and expressional profiling analysis of drought tolerant genes in new promising rice genotype. PLoS ONE, 17(3). View this article in WRRO
- Inhibition of Arabidopsis stomatal development by plastoquinone oxidation. Current Biology, 31(24), 5622-5632.e7.
- Preferential wheat (Triticum aestivum. L cv. Fielder) root growth in different sized aggregates. Soil and Tillage Research, 212. View this article in WRRO
- Stomatal responses to carbon dioxide and light require abscisic acid catabolism in Arabidopsis. Interface Focus, 11(2), 20200036-20200036.
- Dynamic thylakoid stacking and state transitions work synergistically to avoid acceptor-side limitation of photosystem I. Nature Plants. View this article in WRRO
- Wheat root system architecture and soil moisture distribution in an aggregated soil using neutron computed tomography. Geoderma, 359. View this article in WRRO
- HY5 is not integral to light mediated stomatal development in Arabidopsis. PLoS ONE, 15(1). View this article in WRRO
- Molecular control of stomatal development. Biochemical Journal, 475(2), 441-454. View this article in WRRO
- Origin and function of stomata in the moss Physcomitrella patens.. Nature Plants, 2. View this article in WRRO
- Plant Development: Suppression the Key to Asymmetric Cell Fate. Current Biology, 26(21), R1137-R1139. View this article in WRRO
- Elevated CO2-Induced Responses in Stomata Require ABA and ABA Signaling. Current Biology, 25(20), 2709-2716. View this article in WRRO
- phytochrome B Is Required for Light-Mediated Systemic Control of Stomatal Development. Current Biology, 24(11), 1216-1221. View this article in WRRO
- Putting the brakes on: abscisic acid as a central environmental regulator of stomatal development.. New Phytol, 202(2), 376-391.
- Connecting stomatal development and physiology. New Phytologist, 201(4), 1079-1082.
- POLARIS, 40-45.
- Developmental Priming of Stomatal Sensitivity to Abscisic Acid by Leaf Microclimate. Current Biology.
- GSK3-like kinases integrate brassinosteroid signaling and stomatal development.. Sci Signal, 5(233), pe30.
- Land plants acquired active stomatal control early in their evolutionary history.. Curr Biol, 21(12), 1030-1035.
- Early transcriptomic events in microdissected Arabidopsis nematode-induced giant cells. PLANT JOURNAL, 61(4), 698-712.
- Environmental regulation of stomatal development.. Curr Opin Plant Biol, 13(1), 90-95.
- Molecular characterisation of the POLARIS locus of Arabidopsis..
- Isolation of RNA from laser-capture-microdissected giant cells at early differentiation stages suitable for differential transcriptome analysis. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY, 10(4), 523-535.
- The role of AtVAMP714 in Arabidopsis development. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY, 153A(2), S214-S214.
- MERISTEM-DEFECTIVE, an RS domain protein, is required for the correct meristem patterning and function in Arabidopsis.. Plant J, 57(5), 857-869.
- phytochrome B and PIF4 Regulate Stomatal Development in Response to Light Quantity. CURR BIOL, 19(3), 229-234.
- Laser-capture microdissection to study global transcriptional changes during plant embryogenesis.. Methods Mol Biol, 427, 111-120.
- Influence of environmental factors on stomatal development. NEW PHYTOL, 178(1), 9-23.
- Intercellular peptide signals regulate plant meristematic cell fate decisions.. Sci Signal, 1(49), pe53.
- CORRECTIONS. Plant Physiology, 143(4), 1982-1982.
- Transcriptional profiling of the Arabidopsis embryo.. Plant Physiol, 143(2), 924-940.
- The POLARIS Peptide, 23-27.
- The POLARIS peptide of Arabidopsis regulates auxin transport and root growth via effects on ethylene signaling.. Plant Cell, 18(11), 3058-3072.
- The turnip mutant of Arabidopsis reveals that LEAFY COTYLEDON1 expression mediates the effects of auxin and sugars to promote embryonic cell identity.. Plant Physiol, 142(2), 526-541.
- Transcriptional profiling of the Arabidopsis embryo. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY, 143(4), S137-S138.
- Laser-capture microdissection and DNA microarrays for the analysis of plant development. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY, 143(4), S119-S119.
- Laser capture microdissection for the analysis of gene expression during embryogenesis of Arabidopsis.. Plant J, 42(1), 111-123.
- Characterization of a proteinase inhibitor from Brachypodium distachyon suggests the conservation of defence signalling pathways between dicotyledonous plants and grasses. Molecular Plant Pathology, 5(4), 267-280.
- KNAT6 gene of Arabidopsis is expressed in roots and is required for correct lateral root formation. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, 54(1), 71-84.
- Genes and signalling in root development. New Phytologist, 158(2), 11-38.
- Erratum: Genes and signalling in root development (New Phytologist (2003) 158 (11-38)). New Phytologist, 158(2), 417.
- Genes and signalling in root development. NEW PHYTOLOGIST, 158(1), 11-38.
- The POLARIS gene of Arabidopsis encodes a predicted peptide required for correct root growth and leaf vascular patterning.. Plant Cell, 14(8), 1705-1721.
- Peptides: new signalling molecules in plants.. Trends Plant Sci, 7(2), 78-83.
- High cyclic electron transfer via the PGR5 pathway in the absence of photosynthetic control. Plant Physiology.
- Investigating root architectural differences in lines of Arabidopsis thaliana. L. with altered stomatal density using high resolution X-Ray synchrotron imaging. Plant and Soil.
- Old and new horizons on Persea americana transformation techniques and applications. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC).
- Publisher Correction: Dynamic thylakoid stacking and state transitions work synergistically to avoid acceptor-side limitation of photosystem I. Nature Plants.
- The Arabidopsis R‐SNARE VAMP714 is essential for polarization of PIN proteins and auxin responses. New Phytologist.
Chapters
- Contributors, Handbook of Biologically Active Peptides (pp. xvii-xlix). Elsevier
- Contributors, Handbook of Biologically Active Peptides (pp. xix-xxxviii). Elsevier
Conference proceedings papers
- Phytochrome B and PIF4 regulate stomatal development in response to light quantity. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY, Vol. 153A(2) (pp S209-S209)
- Signalling in the Arabidopsis root meristem. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY, Vol. 150(3) (pp S144-S144)
- Visualisation and quantification of wheat root system architecture and soil moisture distribution in an aggregated soil using neutron computed tomography. Proceedings of EGU2020: Sharing Geoscience Online. Vienna, Austria, 4 May 2020 - 4 May 2020. View this article in WRRO
Preprints
- Supercharged PGR5-dependent cyclic electron transfer compensates for mis-regulated chloroplast ATP synthase, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
- Leaf wounding and jasmonic acid act synergistically to enable efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transient transformation of Persea americana, Research Square.
- Investigating root architectural differences in lines of Arabidopsis with altered stomatal density using high resolution X-Ray Synchrotron imaging., Research Square.
- The Arabidopsis R-SNARE VAMP714 is essential for polarization of PIN proteins in the establishment and maintenance of auxin gradients, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
- HY5 is not integral to light mediated stomatal development in Arabidopsis, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
- Research group
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I welcome applications from prospective home / EU / overseas PhD students and post-doctoral fellows.
Postdoctoral researchers
- Dr Natalia Hurtado-Castano
- Dr Nick Zoulias
PhD students
- Magda Dabrowska
- Kishwar Shethi
- Julian Adams
Technician
- Dr Barbora Ndreca
- Grants
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- 2019-2023 Leverhulme Trust; Investigating the origin and evolution of stomata (Lead PI, Prof Alistair Hetherington, Bristol; Sheffield lead, Dr Stuart Casson)
- 2019-2022 Leverhulme Trust; Elucidating metabolic control of photosynthetic membrane structure (PI Dr Matt Johnson; Co-I Dr Stuart Casson)
- 2019-2022 BBSRC; Improving water use and accelerating breeding pipelines in Mexican avocado (PI Dr Stuart Casson)
- 2016-2019 BBSRC; Photoreceptor optimisation of plant water use (PI Dr Stuart Casson)
- Teaching activities
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Level 3 Modules
MBB304 Plant Biotechnology
MBB346 Genetic Pathways from Zygote to OrganismLevel 2 Modules
MBB262 Genetics 2
Level 1 Modules
MBB162 Genetics 1