Keiko Torii studies plant stomatal development to understand how stem cells are maintained and how cell-to-cell communication leads to functional tissue patterns during development. Stomata – small valves that serve as an interface between a plant and the atmosphere – are essential for plant survival and for our global environment. Torii’s lab team takes a cross-disciplinary approach to untangle the unique challenges plants face during development. The team’s latest work includes using synthetic chemistry and structure-guided protein engineering to create an artificial plant hormone and receptor pair, which they use to probe and reprogram plant growth and behavior. Through their work, the team aims to provide new tools for biomedical research and boost global crop productivity.
A new synthetic hormone promises to tease apart the many different roles of the plant hormone auxin and could lead to a new way to ripen fruit. Researchers have discovered how plants regulate the development of the pores through which critical exchanges of water and carbon dioxide occur. Fifteen scientists working in the plant sciences gain flexible support from HHMI and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to move their research in creative new directions.