Autar K. Mattoo
Research
Leader and Supervisory Plant Physiologist/Biochemist
Dr.
Mattoo uses biochemical and molecular genetics approaches to understand
how the aging process in plants is regulated with special reference to the
involvement of the plant hormone ethylene. The goal is to manipulate plant
development using bioengineering, gene transfer and tissue culture technologies
for improving food quality. He also studies how plants convert sunlight
into food, what processes limit photosynthesis and thus food production,
and how to improve a plant's ability to withstand damage due to high
light irradiances.
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| Left: Dr. Mattoo
studying tomatoes in BARC greenhouses. Right: Tomatoes
and DNA fingerprints. Images courtesy of ARS Image Gallery. |
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Research Projects Improving Vegetable Nutrients, Shelf-Life And Stress Tolerance Project Number: 1275-21000-134-00 Genetic Improvement Of Quality And Disease Resistance In Vegetable Crops Project Number: 1275-21000-134-01 Genetic Enhancement Of Quality Constituents And Disease Resistance In Solanaceous Vegetables Project Number: 1275-21000-142-00 |
Email mattooa@ba.ars.usda.gov Other information |
Education
1960-1963 B.Sc. (Chemistry, Botany, Zoology & Geology) J &
K University, Kashmir, India
1963-1965 M.Sc. (Biochemistry) Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda,
India. Highest award in the graduating class (Summa cum laude)
1966-1969 Ph.D. (Microbiology) Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda,
India. Thesis title: "Some aspects of the metabolic changes in ripening mangoes"
Professional Societies
American Society of Biological Chemists and Molecular Biology
Biochemical Society, U.K.
American Society of Plant Physiologists
International Plant Molecular Biology Society
American Association for Advancement of Science
Plant Growth Regulator Society of America
Biological Section, American Chemical Society
Washington Area Section of ASPP
Professional Appointments
Staff and Research
4/1997 to date. Research Leader, Vegetable Laboratory, USDA, ARS,
BARC-W, Beltsville, Maryland.
7/1988 to 3/1997. Research
Leader, Plant Molecular Biology Laboratory USDA, ARS, BARC-W, Beltsville,
Maryland.
1/1996 - 1/1998. 'Special Member', Graduate Faculty, University of
Maryland, College Park, Maryland
2/1988 -7/1988. Acting Research Leader, Plant Hormone Laboratory USDA,
ARS, BARC-W, Beltsville, Maryland.
2/1988 -7/1988. Plant Physiologist, GM-15, Plant Hormone Laboratory
USDA, ARS, BARC-W, Beltsville, Maryland.
1/1986 - 4/1993. Adjunct
Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Campus, Catonsville, Maryland
10/1984 - 1/1988. Plant Physiologist, GM-14, Plant Hormone Laboratory
USDA, ARS, BARC-W, Beltsville, Maryland.
11/1980 - 10/1984. Joint
Research Associate, Plant Hormone Laboratory USDA, ARS, BARC-W, Beltsville,
Maryland & Department of Botany, University of Maryland, at College
Park
1/1979 - 11/1980. DAAD Scholar (German Academic Exchange, FRG) Department
of Plant Genetics, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
5/1978 - 6/1978 .National Associate of University Grants Commission:
Molecular Biology Unit, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Bombay,
India.
8/1969 - 1/1979. Lecturer (tenured Assistant Professor), Faculty of
Science M.S. University of Baroda, India.
Post Doctoral
8/1976 - 8/1977. Visiting Scientist (Faculty Appointment), USDA, ARS,
BARC-W, Postharvest Physiology Laboratory Beltsville, Maryland.
2/1976. Visiting Scientist, Department of Botany, The University of
New South Wales, Kensington, Australia.
3/1975 - 6/1976. Postdoctoral
Research Fellow, Department of Biochemistry, The University of Adelaide,
South Australia.
Consultative
9/1981 - 10/1982. Consulting Biochemist, Biotech Research Laboratories,
Inc., Rockville, Maryland.
Honors and Awards
1965. Anil Starch Products Prize (top position in graduating class).
1975 - 1976. British Council (U.K.) Award-Commonwealth University
Interchange Fellowship for postdoctoral work at the University of Adelaide,
Australia.
1975 - 1976. Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, The University of Adelaide
Australia with Dr. D. Bruce Keech.
1975 - 1976. National Research Associateship Award for university
teachers. University Grants Commission, India.
1976. International Union of Biochemistry Travel Fellowship, 10th
International Congress of Biochemistry, Hamburg, Germany.
1976 - 1977. Visiting Faculty Appointment, USDA, BARC-W, with Dr.
Morris Lieberman.
1976 - 1977. "Dr. C. S. Patel Gold Medal" M.S. University of Baroda,
India, for best postdoctoral research paper published.
1979 - 1980. Deutscher Akademischer Austaschdienst (German Academic
Exchange Program) Scholar. The Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel.
1983 - 1986. U.S.-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development
(BARD) Grant award ($150,000). Co-P.I.
1984. Elected Vice-Chairman, Gordon Research Conference on Plant Senescence.
1986 - 1989. U.S.- Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development
(BARD) Grant award ($180,000). Co-P.I.
1987 - 1997. Outstanding Yearly Performance Ratings, USDA
1988. FASEB travel grant to speak at the IUB Congress, Jerusalem,
Israel. Acting Chairman, Gordon Research Conference on Plant Senescence,
Colby-Sawyer, New Hampshire.
1989 - 1994. Certificates of Merit for outstanding leadership and
management.
1989 - 1992. U.S. -Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development
(BARD) grant award ($200,000). Co-P.I. USDA/CRGO grant award ($100,000).
Co-P.I.
1991. Member of Program Committee, Gordon Research Conference on Agricultural
Sciences, California.
1991-to date. Member of Gamma Sigma Delta.
1991-1994. USDA/NRI grant award ($120,000). P.I.
1992. Chairman of Gordon Conference on Plant Senescence, Plymouth,
N. H. Member of Gordon Research Conferences Council, Rhode Island.
1993. Co-organizer, Symposium session on Dynamic Aspects of Plant
Senescence, International Botanical Congress, Yokohama, Japan. Co-Chair,
session on Phosphorylation-Dephosphorylation Regulation of Photosystems
at the XV Intl Botanical Congress, Japan.
1994.
Chair of session on Ethylene
Biosynthesis & Action, Gordon Research Conference, New Hampshire.
Chair, session on Molecular
Biology at the Intnl. Postharvest Symposium, Agadir, Morocco, .
Chair, session on Engineering Postharvest Quality at Biotechnology
applications in floral and nursery plant improvement. Beltsville.
Co-Chair, session on 'Ethylene interactions with other plant growth
substances' at Symposium on Molecular Aspects of Hormone Action in Plants,
Okazaki, Japan.
Co-Chair and Plenary Lecturer, session on Damage-Repair Cycle of D1
Protein Photoinhibition at 34th NIBB Conference on Response of the Photosynthetic
Apparatus to Environmental Light Conditions, Okazaki, Japan.
Co-Chair and Plenary Lecturer, session on Biotechnology at the UNIDO/ICGEB
International Conference on Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology,
New Delhi, India.
1995-1996 .Member, Scientific Organizing Committee, Intl Conf on Ethylene
1995-1997. FAS, USDA Expert for long term collaborative linkage program
with India in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
1995
Plenary Lecturer. (Molecular Approaches to Control Fruit Ripening)
16th Intl Congress of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (International
Union of Biochemistry), Delhi, India.
Discussant in a special session on industry- scientist interface on
improvement of crop plants by genetic engineering, Invited representative
from a govt institution, USDA/ARS, to speak at the Choice's Day, Michigan
State University, East Lansing. Oct 29/30.
Special invitee, IRRI (Philippines) Workshop, Working Group for the
Frontier Project on N2 fixation and N metabolism. May 2-4, 1995.
1996
Discussion Leader and Plenary Lecturer, UNIDO/ICGEB International
Conference on Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India.
Discussion Leader and Lecturer, 1996 Intl Symposium on Biology &
Biotechnology of Ethylene, Chania, Greece.
Member, select Working
Group, IRRI (Philippines) Workshop, Frontier Project on N2 metabolism.
September 7-11,
USDA-NRI Panel member, 5-19-96 to 5-24-96.
Gordon Research Conferences - advisory to nominate Vice Chair, and
invited lecture, New Hampshire, July 96.
Ars representative at the NATO-ICAR Workshop on Plant Biotechnology to build a bridge between the Indian Council for Agricultural Research and USDA, November 12-15, 1996
1997-1998
Keynote speaker, Asia-Pacific Workshop on Biosafety, Enviromental Impact Analysis of Transgenic Plants, Chennai (Madras), India, July 21-26, 1997.
Member, International
Scientific Organizing Committee, 1997 International Symposium on Plant
Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Lucknow, India, December 28, 1997-January
2, 1998
Congress Symposium Speaker, and Discussant, IX IAPTC International
Congress on Plant Tissue and Cell Culture: Plant Biotechnology and In Vitro
Biology in the 21st Century, Jeruselem, Israel, June 14-19, 1998.
Symposium Speaker and Chair of a Session, Euchem Meeting on Protein Phosphorylation in Photosynthesis, Sigtuna, Sweden, August 1-5, 1998.
Symposium Speaker, NATO-FESPP International Meeting on The Chloroplast: From Molecular Biology to Biotechnology, Kolymbari-Chania, Greece, August 10-15, 1998.
Symposium Speaker and Chair of a Session, International Symposium on Biology and Biotechnology of the Plant Hormone Ethylene II, Santorini-Cyclades, Greece, September 5-8, 1998.
Award: 1998 Senior Scientist of the Year, Beltsville Area
Award: 1998 ARS Distinguished Research Scientist of the Year
1999
Member, Scientific Program
Committee and Symposium Speaker, Vth International Symposium on Biochemical
Roles of Eukaryotic Cell Surface Macromolecules, Bangalore, India, January
4-8, 1999.
Award: 1999 USDA Secretary's Award recognizing "People Making a Difference".
Award: 1999 USDA Secretary's Honor Award for personal and Professional
Excellence.
Chair, Selection Panel for 1999 Beltsville Area Senior Scientist of the Year and Early Career Scientist of the Year.
Member, Selection Panel for 1999 ARS Hall of Fame Awards Program.
Member, Technical Advisory
Committee (TAC), U.S. - Israel Binational Agriculture and Development
(BARD) Fund, 1999-2001.
Symposium speaker, International ICGEB Symposium on Signal Transduction
in Plants, New Delhi, India. October 3-6, 1999.
1998-present
More information on these journal articles can be found using AGRICOLA at the National Agriculture Library web site. Many abstracts of the articles are online.
Mattoo, A.K., Giardi, M-T., Raskind, A., and Edelman, M. 1999. Dynamic metabolism of photosystem II reaction center proteins and pigments. Physiol. Plant. In Press.
Mehta, R.A., Zhou, D., Tucker, M., Handa, A., Solomos, T., and Mattoo, A.K. 1999. Ethylene in higher plants: biosynthetic interactions with polyaminesand high-temperature-mediated differential induction of Nr versus TAE1 ethylene receptor. Biology and Biotechnology of the Plant Hormone Ethylene. Kluwer Acad. Publ., Boston. In Press.
Mehta, R., Handa, A., and Mattoo, A.K. 1999. Ethylene, polyamines and fruit ripening. Plant Biotechnology and In Vitro Biology in the 21st Century. Kluwver Acad. Publ. Boston. Pp. 591-595.
Babu, T.S., Jansen, M., Greenberg, B., Gaba, V., Malkin, S., Mattoo, A.K., and Edelman, M. 1999. Amplified degredation of the photosystemII D1 and D2 proteins under a mixture of PAR and UV-B: Dependence on photosystemII electron transport. Photochem. Photobiol.69, 553-559.
Mattoo, A.K. 1999. A global perspective on the current status of plant biotechnology.Proceedings on Environmental Impact-Analysis of Transgenic Plants. In Press.
Zhou, D. , Solomos, T., Imaseki, H., and Mattoo, A.K. 1999. Low temperature storage induces acid invertase in potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum). J. Plant Physiol. 154, 346-350.
Jansen, M.A.K., Mattoo, A.K., and Edelman, M. 1999. Photodynamics of D1-D2 protein catabolism in the chloroplast. Eur. J. Biochem. 260, 527-532.
Koblizek, M., Masojidek, J., Komenda, J., Kucera, T., Pilloton, R., Mattoo, A.K., and Giardi, M.T. 1998. A sensitive photosystemII-based biosensor for detection of a class of herbicides. Biotechnol. Bioengg. 60, 664-669.
Booij, I.S., Callahan, F.E. , Jansen, M.A., Edelman, M., and Mattoo, A.K. 1998. Photoregulation and photoprotection of the photosystem II reaction center heterodimer. Concepts in Photobiology: Photosynthesis and Photomorphogenesis. Narosa Publ. House, New Delhi and Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp. 549-571.
Mattoo, A.K. Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerases from plant organelles. 1998. Methods Enzymol. 290:84-100.
Shantharam, S. and Mattoo, A.K. 1997. Enhancing biological nitrogen fixation: an appraisal of current and alternative technologies for N input into plants. Plant and Soil. 194:205-216.
Tucker, M., Matters, G., Koehler, S., Zhou, D., Hong, S.B., Kalaitzis, P., Mattoo, A., and Nath, P. 1997. An ethylene-regulated DNA element in abscission-specific gene promoters and the expression of an ETR1 homologue in tomato abscission. Biology and Biotechnology of the Plant Hormone Ethylene (A.K. Kanellis, C. Chang, H. Kende and D. Grierson, eds.), Kluwer Acad. Publ., Boston. Pp. 175-183.
Mehta, R., A. Handa, and A.K. Mattoo. 1997. Interactions of ethylene and polyamines in regulating fruit ripening. Biology and Biotechnology of the Plant Hormone Ethylene. Kanellis, et al. (eds.). Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherlands. pp.321-326
Elich, T.D., Edelman, M., and Mattoo, A.K. 1997. Evidence for light-dependent and light-independent protein dephosphorylation in chloroplasts. FEBS Letters. 411: 236-238.
Mattoo, A.K., R.A. Mehta, and K.H. Chung, 1997. Molecular regulation of ethylene biosynthesis and fruit ripening. In: Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. K.K. Tewari and G.S. Singhal (eds.). Narosa Publishing House, New Delhi. pp. 53-67.
Tucker, M.L. and A.K. Mattoo. 1997. In pursuit of scrumptious produce. The World & I. pp.192-199.
Fluhr, R. and A.K. Mattoo. 1996. Ethylene - biosynthesis and perception. Crit. Rev. Plant Sci. 15: 479-523.
Giardi, M.T., A. Cona, B. Geiken, T. Kucera, J. Masojidek, and A.K. Mattoo. 1996. Long-term drought stress induces structural and functional reorganization of photosystem II. Planta 199: 118-125.
Jansen, M.A.K., B.M. Greenberg, M. Edelman, A.K. Mattoo, and V. Gaba. 1996. Accelerated degradation of the D2 protein of photosystem II under ultraviolet radiation. Photochem. Photobiol. 63: 814-817.
Jansen, M.A.K., T.S. Babu, D. Heller, V. Gaba, A.K. Mattoo, and M. Edelman. 1996. Ultraviolet-B effects on Spirodela oligorrhiza: Induction of different protection mechanisms. Plant Science 115: 217-223.
Jansen, M.A.K., V. Gaba, B.M. Greenberg, A.K. Mattoo, and M. Edelman. 1996. Low threshold levels of ultraviolet-B in a background of photosynthetically active radiation trigger rapid degradation of the D2 protein of photosystem-II . Plant J. 9: 693-699.
Mehta, R. and A.K. Mattoo. 1996. Isolation and identification of ripening-related tomato fruit carboxypeptidase. Plant Physiol. 110: 875-882.
Mehta, R., R.D. Warmbardt, and A.K. Mattoo. 1996. Tomato fruit carboxypeptidase: properties, induction upon wounding, and immunocytochemical localization. Plant Physiol. 110: 883-892.
Mehta, R., R.D. Warmbardt, and A.K. Mattoo. 1996. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Pik-Red) leaf carboxypeptidase: Identification, N-terminal sequence, stress-regulation and specific localization in the paraveinal mesophyll vacuoles. Plant Cell Physiol. 37: 806-815.
Swegle, M. and A.K. Mattoo. 1996. Identification and partial amino acid sequence of a novel ferredoxin-NADP oxidoreductase from rice. Plant Cell Physiol. 37:1183-1187.
Tucker, M., G. Matters, S. Koehler, D. Zhou, S.B. Hong, P. Kalaitzis, A.K. Mattoo, and P. Nath. 1996. In: Biology and Biotechnology of the Plant Hormone Ethylene. Kanellis, et al. (eds.). Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherlands. (In press).
Zhou, D., A.K. Mattoo, and M.L. Tucker. 1996. Molecular cloning of a tomato cDNA (Genbank U47279) encoding an ethylene receptor. Plant Physiol. 110: 1435-1436.
Zhou, D., P. Kalaitzis, A.K. Mattoo, and M.L. Tucker. 1996. The mRNA for an ETR1 homologue in tomato is constitutively expressed in vegetative and reproductive tissues. Plant Molec. Biol. 30: 1331-1338.
Booij, I.S., M. Swegle, S. Dube, M. Edelman, and A.K. Mattoo. 1995. Photodegradation of D1-D2 PSII reaction center heterodimer. In: Photosynthesis: From Light to Biosphere. Vol. I. P. Mathis (ed.). Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherlands. pp. 487-490.
Cona, A., T. Kucera, J. Masojidek, B. Geiken, A.K. Mattoo, and M.T. Giardi. 1995. Long-term drought stress symptom: Structural and functional reorganization of photosystem II. In: Photosynthesis: From Light to Biosphere. Vol. I. P. Mathis (ed.). Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherlands. pp. 521-524.
Geiken, B., A. Cona, M.T. Giardi, and A.K. Mattoo. 1995. Phosphorylation of PSII core in relation to D1 turnover in higher plants. In: Photosynthesis: From Light to Biosphere. Vol. I. P. Mathis (ed.). Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherlands. pp. 475-478.
Giardi, M.T., A. Cona, B. Geiken, T. Kucera, J. Masojidek, and A.K. Mattoo. 1995. D1 turnover as an adaptation signal for plants to recover from drought. In: Interdrought.
Mattoo, A.K. 1995. Molecular strategies to enhance postharvest quality of horticultural crops - an overview. In: Postharvest Physiology, Pathology and Technologies for Horticultural Commodities: Recent Advances. A. Ait-Oubahou and M. El-Otmani (eds.). Inst. Agron. & Vet. Hassan II, Agadir, Morocco. pp. 302-312.
Mehta, R.A. and A.K. Mattoo. 1995. Gene expression and protein dynamics during tomato fruit ripening. In: Postharvest Physiology, Pathology and Technologies for Horticultural Commodities: Recent Advances. A. Ait-Oubahou and M. El-Otmani (eds.). Inst. Agron. & Vet. Hassan II, Agadir, Morocco. pp. 343-352.
Avni, A., B.A. Bailey, A.K. Mattoo, and J.D. Anderson. 1994. Induction of ethylene biosynthesis in Nicotiana tabacum by a Trichoderma viride xylanase is correlated to the accumulation of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase and ACC oxidase transcripts. Plant Physiol. 106: 1049-1055.
Li, N. and A.K. Mattoo. 1994. Deletion of the carboxyl-terminal region of ACC synthase, a key protein in the biosynthesis of ethylene, results in catalytically hyper-active, monomeric enzyme. J. Biol. Chem. 269: 6908-6917.
Parsons, B.L. and A.K. Mattoo. 1994. A wound-repressible glycine-rich protein transcript is enriched in vascular bundles of tomato fruit and stem. Plant Cell Physiol. 35: 27-35.
Zhou, D., A.K. Mattoo, N. Li, H. Imaseki, and T. Solomos. 1994. Complete nucleotide sequence of potato tuber acid invertase cDNA. Plant Physiol. 106: 397-398.
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