Vivian Irish, PhD
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About
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Eaton Professor of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Biography
Dr. Vivian Irish is the Daniel C. Eaton Professor of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology. She obtained her Ph.D. from Harvard University, where she characterized the role of the DPP/TGFbeta signaling pathway in specifying dorsal-ventral polarity in the Drosophila embryo. After postdoctoral work investigating anterior-posterior patterning in Drosophila, she turned her attention to exploring patterning processes in the Arabidopsis flower. For a number of years she has focused on characterizing the genes and pathways regulating organogenesis and growth in the flower. She has also explored the extent to which these pathways are conserved across different flowering plant species. Using molecular, genetic and modeling approaches, her current research is centered on understanding how cells and tissues are patterned, epigenetic control of developmental processes, and how stem cell activity is regulated in plants. Additionally, part of her work focuses on biotechnological applications to improve agriculture.
Education & Training
- Postdoctoral Fellow
- Yale University (1991)
- Postdoctoral Fellow
- Cambridge University (1989)
- PhD
- Harvard University, Cell and Developmental Biology (1986)
- BA
- Wesleyan University, Biology (1980)
Research
Overview
The Irish lab is interested in understanding plant growth and development. Our current research efforts are described below.
Stem cell proliferation and arrest in Citrus
In plants, cells of the shoot apical meristem (SAM) act as stem cells, giving rise to more stem cells as well as specialized cell types contributing to the leaves, branches and fruit. We are investigating the basis for thorn development in Citrus as a means to understand how the termination of stem cell proliferation is controlled. Thorns arise from SAM cells that fail to self-renew, and instead terminally differentiate, providing a unique opportunity to explore how SAM cell proliferation is controlled. We are using a combination of transcriptomics, molecular genetics and newly developed transgenic approaches to identify the genes and processes responsible for thorn development and how this unusual stem cell arrest process is controlled. Citrus plant growth, fruit yield and harvest costs are all affected by thorniness, and so understanding how to manipulate thorn production will also greatly impact the economics of this valuable fruit crop.
Control of petal organogenesis
Organ formation, whether in animals or plants, depends on several processes. These include delimitation of where an organ will form, growth of the organ, and its consequent differentiation. Using the Arabidopsis petal as a model organ system, we are investigating the genes and cellular processes that contribute to the development of this seemingly simple organ type. We are examining how a transcriptional repressor, RBE, coordinately regulates both organ boundary formation and organ growth. We have shown that RBE acts early in petal development to control the formation of organ boundaries, and recent results suggest that RBE also regulates a transcriptional cascade of events that act as a timing mechanism to control organ growth. We are currently investigating the cellular basis for growth control in petals, and how transcriptional changes are manifested as changes in cell proliferation.
Control of petal cell type differentiation
Petal conical epidermal cells are covered in radiate nanoridges that give these cells unique physical properties. The nanoridges are vital for pollinator attraction, iridescence, wettability, and can provide tactile cues. However, the molecular, cellular, and mechanical bases for how this unusual cell type is formed and functions is not well understood. We are using a combination of biochemical, molecular genetic, and modeling approaches to develop a mechanistic understanding of how conical epidermal cell morphology is achieved.
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Francesc Lopez-Giraldez, PhD
Jeffrey Townsend, PhD
Yannick Jacob, PhD
Arabidopsis
Biological Evolution
Publications
2024
Optimization of in planta methodology for genome editing and transformation in Citrus
Khadgi A, Sagawa C, Vernon C, Mermaz B, Irish V. Optimization of in planta methodology for genome editing and transformation in Citrus. Frontiers In Plant Science 2024, 15: 1438031. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1438031.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsCitrus cultivarsCommercial citrus cultivarsPlanta transformation protocolPineapple sweet orangeTissue cultureGene-edited linesLisbon lemonSweet orangeCulture-based approachesPlanta transformationRecalcitrant speciesCitrus plantsCultivarsGenetic transformationTransformation protocolPlant speciesCRISPR/Cas9 constructsTransformation efficiencyCitrusGenetic changesGenome editingAseptic conditionsRegeneration rateLemonPlantsAn epigenetic timer regulates the transition from cell division to cell expansion during Arabidopsis petal organogenesis
Huang R, Irish V. An epigenetic timer regulates the transition from cell division to cell expansion during Arabidopsis petal organogenesis. PLOS Genetics 2024, 20: e1011203. PMID: 38442104, PMCID: PMC10942257, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011203.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCell division to cell expansionCell divisionCell expansionRemodeling of chromatin accessibilityResponse to environmental changesRNA polymerase activityPlant developmental timingRegulate developmental eventsMultiple cell divisionsDownstream direct targetsCorepressor TOPLESSArabidopsis petalsChromatin accessibilityHistone modificationsPetal developmentEpigenetic stateTranscriptional repressorPetal organogenesisPolymerase activityEpigenetic memoryPetal primordiaPlant organogenesisCell cycleEpigenetic factorsControl organogenesis
2023
Cellulose assembles into helical bundles of uniform handedness in cell walls with abnormal pectin composition
Saffer A, Baskin T, Verma A, Stanislas T, Oldenbourg R, Irish V. Cellulose assembles into helical bundles of uniform handedness in cell walls with abnormal pectin composition. The Plant Journal 2023, 116: 855-870. PMID: 37548081, PMCID: PMC10592269, DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16414.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCell wallPlant cellsWild typeMost plant cellsPetal epidermal cellsDirect morphogenesisHelical bundlePetal cellsRemarkable diversityEpidermal cellsLarger macrofibrilsPectin compositionCell morphologyUniform handednessPolysaccharide componentsMorphogenesisMutantsConsistent chiralityHelical twistInteresting exceptionsRhamnogalacturonanCellsRight-handed helixEmergent propertiesPrimary determinantMy favourite flowering image: Arabidopsis conical petal epidermal cells
Irish V. My favourite flowering image: Arabidopsis conical petal epidermal cells. Journal Of Experimental Botany 2023, 74: 2940-2943. PMID: 36932972, DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad106.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetric
2021
Do Epigenetic Timers Control Petal Development?
Huang R, Huang T, Irish V. Do Epigenetic Timers Control Petal Development? Frontiers In Plant Science 2021, 12: 709360. PMID: 34295349, PMCID: PMC8290480, DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.709360.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsGene expressionEpigenetic factorsSuch regulatory mechanismsPetal developmentPlant organogenesisHeritable changesChromatin structureDNA accessibilityEpigenetic controlHistone modificationsEpigenetic modificationsPetal growthDNA methylationDevelopmental timingDevelopmental eventsRegulatory mechanismsDevelopmental transitionsMolecular mechanismsCell typesEnvironmental changesDevelopmental progressionOrganogenesisSuch modificationsRecent studiesExpression
2020
Reprogramming of Stem Cell Activity to Convert Thorns into Branches
Zhang F, Rossignol P, Huang T, Wang Y, May A, Dupont C, Orbovic V, Irish VF. Reprogramming of Stem Cell Activity to Convert Thorns into Branches. Current Biology 2020, 30: 2951-2961.e5. PMID: 32559443, DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.05.068.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsGene networksShoot stem cell nicheStem cellsTCP transcription factorsExpression of WUSCHELStem cell quiescenceStem cell nicheStem cell activityStem cell proliferationCitrus genesAngiosperm speciesPlant architectureShoot apicalApical meristemTranscription factorsCell nicheCell quiescenceMeristemFunction of componentsWUSCHELCell proliferationConcomitant conversionCrop yieldFunction resultsCells
2018
Vivian Irish
Irish V. Vivian Irish. Current Biology 2018, 28: r641-r642. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.04.066.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetric
2017
Increased efficiency of targeted mutagenesis by CRISPR/Cas9 in plants using heat stress
LeBlanc C, Zhang F, Mendez J, Lozano Y, Chatpar K, Irish V, Jacob Y. Increased efficiency of targeted mutagenesis by CRISPR/Cas9 in plants using heat stress. The Plant Journal 2017, 93: 377-386. PMID: 29161464, DOI: 10.1111/tpj.13782.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCRISPR/Green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter geneCRISPR/Cas9 systemFluorescent protein reporter geneCRISPR/Cas9Off-target mutationsArabidopsis plantsEukaryotic genomesDifferent organismsSomatic tissuesCitrus plantsCas9 systemDNA breaksReporter geneTarget mutagenesisTargeted mutationsMutation rateMutagenesisImportance of temperatureArabidopsisHeat stressPlantsMutationsQuantitative assayEukaryotesThe ABC model of floral development
Irish V. The ABC model of floral development. Current Biology 2017, 27: r887-r890. PMID: 28898659, DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.03.045.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsRhamnose-Containing Cell Wall Polymers Suppress Helical Plant Growth Independently of Microtubule Orientation
Saffer AM, Carpita NC, Irish VF. Rhamnose-Containing Cell Wall Polymers Suppress Helical Plant Growth Independently of Microtubule Orientation. Current Biology 2017, 27: 2248-2259.e4. PMID: 28736166, DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.06.032.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCell wall polymersPlant growthWall polymersMicrotubule orientationPectic polysaccharide rhamnogalacturonanHelical growthMost plant organsEpidermal cell expansionCell wall compositionCortical microtubule arraysPetal epidermal cellsMutant rootsPlant cellsPlant speciesRhamnose synthasePlant organsWall compositionMicrotubule arraysEpidermal cellsCell expansionImportant functionsMutantsNovel sourceMutationsSpecific organs
Academic Achievements and Community Involvement
honor Fellow
National AwardAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)Details12/29/2023United Stateshonor Elected Member
Regional AwardConnecticut Academy of Science and EngineeringDetails07/01/2019United Stateshonor Daniel C. Eaton Professor
Yale University AwardYale UniversityDetails07/01/2017United Stateshonor President
National AwardSociety for Developmental BiologyDetails07/01/2012United Stateshonor Visiting Professor
UnknownENS, Lyon, FranceDetails09/01/2011United States
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Modulation of petal growth in Arabidopsis via disruptions in a transcriptional timing cascade.
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