Elizabeth Pilon-Smits
ProfessorOffice: Anatomy/Zoology Building E413Phone: 970-491-4991Website: http://rydberg.biology.colostate.edu/epsmitslabEducation: Ph.D., Utrecht University, The NetherlandsEmail: Elizabeth.Pilon-Smits@ColoState.EDU
We do multidisciplinary research that ranges from cells to whole plants to ecosystems. An important common denominator is selenium (Se): an essential element with anticarcinogenic and antiviral properties, but also a toxin and environmental pollutant. We study plant Se tolerance and accumulation using genetic/genomic tools and biotechnology and biochemistry. At the same time, we are very interested in ecological and evolutionary aspects of Se hyperaccumulation: the capacity of certain species to accumulate Se up to 1% of dry weight. Our findings indicate that Se hyperaccumulation has evolved as a protection from biotic stresses. A better understanding of plant Se metabolism and hyperaccumulation may ultimately lead to the development of pathogen- and pest-resistant, anticarcinogenic, Se-fortified crops, and plants with superior properties for the phytoremediation of Se-polluted soils and waters.
Selected Publications
Lindblom SD, Valdez-Barillas JR, Fakra SC, Marcus MA, Wangeline AL, Pilon-Smits EAH (2012) Influence of Microbial Associations on Selenium Localization and Speciation in Roots of Astragalus and Stanleya Hyperaccumulators. Experimental and Environmental Botany, in press
El Mehdawi AF, Cappa JJ, Fakra SC, Self J, Pilon-Smits EAH (2012) Interactions of Selenium and Non-accumulators during Co-cultivation on Seleniferous or Non-Seleniferous Soil – The Importance of Having Good Neighbors. New Phytologist, in press
Quinn CF, Prins CN, Gross AM, Hantzis L, Reynolds RJB, Freeman JL, Yang SI, Covey PA, Bañuelos GS, Pickering IJ, Fakra SF, Marcus MA, Arathi HS, Pilon-Smits EAH (2011) Selenium Accumulation in Flowers and its Effects on Pollination. New Phytologist 192: 727–737
Valdez-Barilla JR, Quinn CF, Pilon-Smits EAH (2011) Selenium accumulation in plants - phytotechnological applications and ecological implications. International Journal of Phytoremediation 13(S1): 166-178
Wangeline AL, Valdez JR, Lindblom SD, Bowling KL, Reeves FB, Pilon-Smits EAH (2011) Selenium tolerance in rhizosphere fungi from Se hyperaccumulator and non-hyperaccumulator plants. American Journal of Botany 98: 1139-1147
Prins CN, Hantzis LJ, Quinn CF, Pilon-Smits EAH (2011) Effects of Selenium accumulation on reproductive functions in Brassica juncea and Stanleya pinnata. Journal of Experimental Botany 62: 5233-5239
El-Mehdawi AF, Pilon-Smits EAH (2012) Ecological Aspects of Plant Selenium Hyperaccumulation. Plant Biology, in press. doi:10.1111/j.1438-8677.2011.00535.x
El-Mehdawi AF, Quinn CF, Pilon-Smits EAH (2011) Selenium Hyperaccumulators Facilitate Selenium-Tolerant Neighbors via Phytoenrichment and Reduced Herbivory. Current Biology 21: 1440-1449
El-Mehdawi AF, Quinn CF, Pilon-Smits EAH (2011) Effects of selenium hyperaccumulation on plant-plant interactions: Evidence for elemental allelopathy? New Phytologist 191: 120-131
Bãnuelos GS, Walse SS, Pickering IJ, Fakra SC, Marcus MA, Pilon-Smits EAH, Yang SI, Freeman JL (2011) Localization, chemical speciation, and semi-quantification of selenium in cactus pear, Opuntia ficus-indica, grown in saline drainage sediment. Plant Physiology 155: 315-327
Quinn CF, Wyant K, Wangeline AL, Shulman J*, Galeas ML, Valdez JR, Paschke MW, Pilon-Smits EAH (2010) Selenium hyperaccumulation increases leaf decomposition rate in a seleniferous habitat. Plant and Soil 341: 51-61
Alford, EA, Pilon-Smits EAH, Paschke M (2010) Metallophytes – a view from the rhizosphere. Plant and Soil 337: 33-50
Quinn CF, Freeman JL, Reynolds RJB*, Lindblom SD, Cappa JJ, Fakra SF, Marcus MA, Pilon-Smits EAH (2010) Selenium hyperaccumulation offers protection from cell disruptor herbivores BMC Ecology 10:19
Freeman JL, Tamaoki M, Stushnoff C, Quinn CF, Cappa JJ, Devonshire J, Fakra S, Marcus MA, McGrath S, Van Hoewyk D, Pilon-Smits EAH (2010) Molecular mechanisms of selenium tolerance and hyperaccumulation in Stanleya pinnata. Plant Physiology 153: 1630-1652
Pilon-Smits EAH, Quinn CF (2010) Selenium Metabolism in Plants. In: Plant Cell Monographs, 2010, Volume 17, “Cell Biology of Metals and Nutrients”, Hell R, Mendel R, eds. pp 225-241
Zhu Y-G, Pilon-Smits EAH, Zhao F-J, Williams PN, Meharg AA (2009) Selenium in higher plants: Understanding mechanisms for biofortification and phytoremediation. Trends in Plant Science 19: 436-442
Pilon-Smits EAH, Quinn CF, Tapken W, Malagoli M, Schiavon M (2009) Physiological functions of beneficial elements. Current Opinion in Plant Biology 12: 267-274
Pilon-Smits EAH, LeDuc DL (2009) Phytoremediation of selenium using transgenic plants. Current Opinion in Biotechnology 20: 207-212
Freeman JL, Quinn CF, Lindblom SD, Klamper EM, Pilon-Smits EAH (2009) Selenium protects the hyperaccumulator Stanleya pinnata against black-tailed prairie dog herbivory in native seleniferous habitats. American Journal of Botany 96: 1075-1085
Van Hoewyk D, Takahashi H, Hess A, Tamaoki M, Pilon-Smits EAH (2008) Transcriptome and biochemical analyses give insights into selenium-stress responses and selenium tolerance mechanisms in Arabidopsis. Physiologia Plantarum 132: 236-253
Galeas ML, Klamper EM*, Bennett LE, Freeman JL, Kondratieff BC, Pilon-Smits EAH (2008) Selenium hyperaccumulation affects plant arthropod load in the field. New Phytologist 177:715-724
Tamaoki M, Freeman JL, Pilon-Smits EAH (2008) Cooperative ethylene and jasmonic acid signaling regulates selenite resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Physiology 146: 1219-1230
Quinn CF, Freeman JF, Galeas ML, Klamper EM, Pilon-Smits EAH (2008) Selenium protects plants from prairie dog herbivory - Implications for the functional significance and evolution of Se hyperaccumulation. Oecologia 155:267-75
Van Hoewyk D, Abdel-Ghany SE, Cohu C, Herbert S, Kugrens P, Pilon M, Pilon-Smits EAH (2007) The Arabidopsis cysteine desulfurase CpNifS is essential for maturation of iron-sulfur cluster proteins, photosynthesis, and chloroplast development. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 104: 5686-5691
Murthy N, Ollagnier-de-Choudens S, Sanakis Y, Abdel-Ghany SE, Rousset C, Ye H, Fontecave M, Pilon-Smits EAH, Pilon M (2007) Characterization of Arabidopsis thaliana SufE2 and SufE3: Functions in Chloroplast Iron-Sulfur Cluster Assembly and NAD Synthesis. Journal of Biological Chemistry 282: 18254-18264
Freeman JL, Lindblom SD*, Quinn CF, Fakra S, Marcus MA, Pilon-Smits EAH (2007) Selenium accumulation protects plants from herbivory by orthoptera due to toxicity and deterrence. New Phytologist 175: 490-500
Galeas ML, Zhang LH, Freeman JL, Wegner M*, Pilon-Smits EAH (2007) Seasonal fluctuations of selenium and sulfur accumulation in selenium hyperaccumulators and related non-accumulators. New Phytologist 173: 517-525
Freeman JL, Quinn CF, Marcus MA, Fakra S, Pilon-Smits EAH (2006) Selenium-tolerant diamondback moth disarms hyperaccumulator plant defense. Current Biology 16: 2181-2192
Zhang L-H, Abdel-Ghany SE, Freeman JL, Ackley AR*, Schiavon, M, Pilon-Smits EAH (2006) Investigation of selenium tolerance mechanisms in Arabidopsis thaliana. Physiologia Plantarum 128: 212-223
Freeman JL, Zhang LH, Marcus MA, Fakra S, McGrath SP, Pilon-Smits EAH (2006) Spatial imaging, speciation and quantification of selenium in the hyperaccumulator plants Astragalus bisulcatus and Stanleya pinnata. Plant Physiology 142: 124-134
Pilon-Smits EAH, Freeman JL (2006) Environmental Cleanup using Plants: Biotechnological Advances and Ecological Considerations. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 4: 203-210
Pilon-Smits EAH (2005) Phytoremediation. Annual Reviews in Plant Biology 56:15-39
Ye H, Abdel-Ghany SE, Anderson TD, Pilon-Smits EAH, Pilon M (2006) Iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis in chloroplasts. CpSufE activates CpNifS cysteine desulfurase activity. Journal of Biological Chemistry 281: 8958-8969
Bauelos G, Terry N, LeDuc DL, Pilon-Smits EAH, Mackey B (2005) Field trial of transgenic Indian mustard plants shows enhanced phytoremediation of selenium-contaminated sediment. Environmental Science and Technology 39: 1771-1777
Lindblom SD, Abdel-Ghany SE, Hanson BR, Hwang S, Terry N, Pilon-Smits EAH (2006) Constitutive expression of a high-affinity sulfate transporter in Brassica juncea affects metal tolerance and accumulation. Journal of Environmental Quality, 35: 726-733
Abdel-Ghany SE, Ye H, Garifullina GF, Zhang L, Pilon-Smits EAH, Pilon M (2005) Iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis in chloroplasts: Involvement of the scaffold protein CpIscA. Plant Physiology 138: 161-172
Zhang L-H Byrne PF, Pilon-Smits EAH (2006) Mapping quantitative trait loci associated with selenate tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. New Phytologist 170: 33-42
Van Hoewyk D, Garifullina GF, Ackley AR, Abdel-Ghany SE, Marcus MA, Fakra S, Ishiyama K, Inoue E, Pilon M, Takahashi H, Pilon-Smits EAH (2005) Overexpression of AtCpNifS enhances selenium tolerance and accumulation in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology 139: 1518-1528