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Dr Zoë Popper

    

Botany and Plant Science, School of Natural Sciences,
Institute for Environment, Marine and Energy, NUI Galway

Contact

• Office: Martin Ryan Building, Rm 319
• Laboratory: Botany and Plant Science, Aras de Brun
• Email: zoe.poppernuigalway.ie
• Phone: ( 353) (0)91 49 5431
• Fax: ( 353) (0)91 525005

       

Research Interests 

The fundamental processes that have enabled plants to colonise and adapt to life on land are amongst the most exciting questions in evolutionary biology.

The primary cell wall performs many essential biological roles (including tissue cohesion, defence, ion exchange, the production of oligosaccharins and the regulation of cell expansion) placing it at the frontier of evolutionary processes.  Indeed, the demands placed on the cell wall, and therefore its optimal composition, have changed during periods of rapid evolution.  Notable changes in cell wall composition are associated with plant terrestrialisation and vascularisation.

Work in this lab aims to characterise cell wall composition to enable improved insight into the mechanisms of plant terrestrialisation and vascularisation.

           

Postgraduate Students

Anna Pielach (2009 to present): 'Interaction between the hemi-parasite Yellow rattle ( Rhinanthus minor) and its host grass species and the impact on native grassland plant species diversity'. Most of the field work for this research is conducted at Brigit's Garden near Galway.

Undergraduate Project Students

2006–2007:
Giuseppe Benanti (now carrying out a PhD in Bruce Osborne’s lab in UCD http://www.ucd.ie/plantecophysiology/group/index.html)

2007–2008:
Catriona Horan
Kieran McGee

2008–2009:
Orla Curry
Leona Fahey (now carrying out a PhD on Pinus cell walls in Prof Philip Harris’ lab in Auckland, NZ, http://www.bioscienceresearch.co.nz/staff/1122/professor-philip-harris/)
Andrew Mulligan

2009–2010:
Tanya Slattery

2010–2011:
Michelle Donlon
Louise McLaughlin

Visiting Research Students

2008:
Dennis Wessels (Köln, Germany)
Eve Demange (Ecole de Biologie Industrielle, France)

2009:
Marita Lorenz (Bundesinstitut für risikobewertung, Berlin, Germany)

2010:
Quentin Coster (Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium) 

Visiting Academics

Professor David Domozych, Skidmore College USA — Feb–May 2011 (Sabbatical)

Professor Paul Knox, University of Leeds, UK ( http://www.personal.leeds.ac.uk/~bmbjpk/) — April 2011 (Immunocytochemistry workshop http://www.personal.leeds.ac.uk/~bmbjpk/gcwiccc2011/index.htm)

Collaborators
 
Professor David Domozych, Skidmore College, USA
http://www.skidmore.edu/academics/biology/ddomoz.htm

Link to PRTLI-funded algal research facility

Publications

Books

Popper ZA ed. 2011. Plant Cell Wall: Methods and Protocols.  Methods in Molecular Biology Volume 715. Humana Press, New Jersey, USA. ISBN-10 1617790079/ ISBN-13 978-1617790072. http://www.springerlink.com/content/978-1-61779-007-2

Book chapters

Popper ZA. 2011. Extraction and detection of arabinogalactan proteins. In Popper ZA (ed.) The Plant Cell Wall: Methods and Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology Volume 715. Humana Press, New Jersey, USA.

Journal articles

Stengel DB, Connan S, Popper ZA. 2011. Algal chemodiversity and bioactivity: Sources of natural variability and implications for commercial application, Biotechnol Adv. doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2011.05.016.

Popper ZA, Michel G, Hervé C, Domozych DS, Willats WGT, Tuohy MG, Kloareg B, Stengel DB. 2011. Evolution and diversity of plant cell walls: from algae to flowering plants. Annu. Rev. Plant Biol. 62: 567–590. http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-arplant-042110-103809

Popper ZA and Tuohy MG. 2010. Beyond the green: understanding the evolutionary puzzle of plant and algal cell walls (invited update). Plant Physiol 153: 373–383. http://www.plantphysiol.org/content/153/2/373.full

Pattathil S, Avci U, Baldwin D, Swennes AG, McGill JA, Popper Z, Bootten T, Albert A, Davis RH, Chenareddy C, Dong R, O’Shea B, Rossi R, Leoff C, Freshour G, Narra R, O’Neill MA, York WS, Hahn MG. 2010. A comprehensive toolkit of plant cell wall glycan-directed monoclonal antibodies. Plant Physiol 153: 514–525. [Faculty of 1000 Biology: impact factor 3; ’recommended’]. http://www.plantphysiol.org/content/early/2010/04/02/pp.109.151985.short

Ronse AC, Popper ZA, Preston JC, Watson MF. 2010. Taxonomic revision of European Apium L. s.l.: Helosciadium W.D.J. Koch restored. Plant Syst Evol 287:1–17. http://www.springerlink.com/content/x1g0632u4q7154vx/ 

Popper ZA. 2008. Evolution and diversity of green plant cell walls (invited review). Current Opinion in Plant Biology 11: 286–292.

Popper ZA, Fry SC. 2008. Xyloglucan-pectin linkages are formed intra-protoplasmically, contribute to wall-assembly, and remain stable in the cell wall. Planta 227: 781–794. [Faculty of 1000 Biology: evaluations for Popper ZA & Fry SC Planta 2007 Nov 7: http://www.f1000biology.com/article/id/1094940/evaluation; impact factor 6; ’must read’].

Popper ZA. 2006. The Cell Walls of Pteridophytes and other green plants (invited review). The Fern Gazette 17: 315–332.

Popper ZA, Fry SC. 2005. Widespread occurrence of a covalent linkage between xyloglucan and acidic polysaccharides in suspension-cultured angiosperm cells. Annals of Botany 96: 91–99. [Faculty of 1000 Biology: evaluations for Popper ZA & Fry SC Ann Bot (Lond) 2005 Jul 96 (1):91-9 http://www.f1000biology.com/article/id/1025414/ evaluation; impact factor 3].

Popper ZA, Fry SC. 2004. Primary Cell Wall Composition of Pteridophytes and Spermatophytes. New Phytologist 164: 165–174.

Popper ZA, Sadler IH, Fry SC. 2004. 3- O-Methylrhamnose in lower land plant primary cell walls . Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 32: 279–289.

Popper ZA, Sadler IH, Fry SC. 2003. a-d-Glucuronosyl-(1®3)-l-galactose, an unusual disaccharide from polysaccharides of the hornwort Anthoceros caucasicus. Phytochemistry 64: 325–335.

Popper ZA, Fry SC. 2003. Primary cell wall composition of bryophytes and Charophytes. Annals of Botany 91: 1–12.

Popper ZA, Sadler IH, Fry SC. 2001. 3- O-Methyl-d-galactose residues in lycophyte primary cell walls. Phytochemistry 57: 711–719.

Published Abstracts

McCann A, Benanti G, Knox JP, Popper ZA. 2007. The occurrence of arabinogalactan proteins in charophytes (stoneworts). Physiologia Plantarum 130: Abstract 125.

Tuomivaara ST, Popper ZA, Bootten TJ, O’Neill M, Freshour G, York WS, Hahn MG.  2006.  Epitope characterisation of tamarind xyloglucan reactive monoclonal antibodies (Abstract).  Glycobiology 16: 1130–1130.

Popper ZA, Sadler IH, Fry SC. 2004. Evolution and Composition of Bryophyte primary cell walls (Abstract). Field Bryologist 82: 33–34.

        

Conference contributions

Posters

Cell Wall

Pielach A , Popper ZA. 2010. The impact of the hemi-parasite yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor) on the floral diversity of East Connenara grassland and selected host grass species. Irish Plant Scientists’ Association Meeting (UCD).

Pielach A , Popper ZA. 2010. The impact of the hemi-parasite yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor) on the floral diversity of East Connenara grassland and selected host grass species. College of Science Research day (NUI Galway).

Popper ZA. 2009. Evolution and diversity of green plant cell walls. ECI research day (NUI Galway).

McCann A, Popper ZA. 2008. Charophyte (stonewort) growth, development and survival. ECI research day (NUI Galway).

McCann A, Benanti G, Knox JP, Popper ZA. 2007. The occurrence of arabinogalactan proteins in charophytes (stoneworts). 11 ^th International Cell Wall Meeting (Copenhagen).

Benanti G, McCann A, Popper ZA. 2007. The occurrence of arabinogalactan proteins in charophytes (stoneworts).   Irish Plant Scientists’ Association Meeting (Cork).

Tuomivaara S, Baldwin D, Albert A, Freshour G, Popper Z, Bootten T, Swennes AG, Davis R, Darvill A, O’Neill M, York W, Hahn MG. 2007. Structural and Immunological studies of pectins and hemicelluloses in plant cell walls. 1 ^st International Fungal/Plant Cell Wall Meeting (Biarritz).

Tuomivaara ST , Popper ZA, Bootten TJ, O’Neill MA, Freshour G, York WS, Hahn MG.  2006.  Epitope characterisation of Tamarind xyloglucan reactive monoclonal antibodies.  Meeting of the Society for Glycobiology.

Swennes AG, Bootten TJ, Popper ZA, Baldwin DF, Bryant SJ, Ezeoke I, Davis RH, Reddy C, Dong R, Rossi R, O’Neill MA, York WS, Hahn MG.  2006.  A monoclonal antibody toolkit for the study of plant cell walls.  American Society of Plant Biologists.

Hahn MG, Bootten TJ, Freshour G, O’Neill MA, Pattathil S, Popper ZA, Swennes A, York WS.  2006.  Structural diversity and dynamics in the glycome of plant cell walls revealed using monoclonal antibodies.  American Society of Plant Biologists.

Sweenes AG , Bootten TJ, Popper ZA, Baldwin DF, Bryant SJ,       Ezeoke I, Davis RH, Reddy C, Dong R, Rossi R, O'Neill MA, York WS, Hahn MG. 2006. A monoclonal antibody toolkit for the study of plant cell walls. Presented at the Gordon Conference on Plant Cell Walls, University of New England, Biddeford, ME, 30 July-4 August 2006.

Hahn MG, Boons J-G, Bootten TJ, Chafin DL, Davis RH, Freshour G, King CS, O’Neill MA, Pattathil S, Popper ZA, York WS, Zhao H. 2005. A monoclonal antibody toolkit for functional genomics of plant cell walls. Biosynthesis of Plant Cell Walls 2 ^nd Meeting (Asilomar).

Popper ZA , O’Neill MA, Bootten TJ, York WS, Chafin DL, Hahn MG. 2005. Production of antigens for the generation of monoclonal antibodies against plant cell wall polysaccharides. Biosynthesis of Plant Cell Walls 2 ^nd Meeting (Asilomar).

Popper ZA.  2003.  Evidence for the widespread occurrence of a covalent linkage between xyloglucan and acidic pectins in suspension-cultured angiosperm cells. Scottish Plant Biology Meeting (Glasgow).

Popper ZA and Fry SC.  2001.  Evolution and diversity of the primary cell wall in green plants. 9 ^th International Cell Wall Meeting (Toulouse).

Popper ZA.  1999.  Is mixed-linkage glucan unique to gramineous monocots? Scottish Cell Wall Group 11 ^th Annual Meeting (Glasgow).

Popper ZA and Fry SC.  1998.  Evolution of plant cell wall polysaccharides: Algae to Angiosperms. 8 ^th International Cell Wall Meeting (Norwich).

Popper ZA.  1998.  Primary plant cell wall composition in relation to the evolution of green plants. Scottish Cell Wall Group 8 ^th Annual Meeting (Dundee).

Pedagogy

Popper ZA. 2010. The importance of Botanic Gardens contribution within undergraduate degree programmes — a preliminary investigation. 4 ^th Global Botanic Gardens Congress (Dublin).

Oral Presentations

Cell Wall

Popper ZA. 2010. Similarities between Plant and Algal Cell Walls. XIIth International Plant Cell Wall Meeting (Porto).

Popper ZA. 2010. The Evolution of Cell Wall Polymers. Irish Plant Scientists’ Association Meeting (UCD).

Popper ZA. 2009. The Diversity of Plant Cell Walls. Gordon Research Conference — Plant Cell Walls (Invited speaker; Bryant University, Smithfield, RI).

Popper ZA. 2009. Evolution and Composition of primary cell walls. Science Research Day, NUI Galway.

McCann A , Benanti G, Popper ZA. 2008. The presence of Arabinogalactan Proteins in Charophycean algae . Irish Plant Scientists’ Association Meeting (Maynooth).

Hahn MG , Rui J, Deng C, Tuomivaara S, Freshour G, Narra R, Pattathil S, Albert A, Swennes AG, Popper Z, Bootten T, O’Neill M, York WS. 2008. New monoclonal antibodies against pectic and xyloglucan epitopes reveal distinct patterns of cell wall polysaccharide deposition in Arabidopsis thaliana. Cell Wall Biosynthesis 3, Asilomar.

Hahn MG , Bootten T, Freshour G, O’Neill MA, Pattahtil S, Popper Z, Swennes A, York WS. 2006.  Structural diversity and dynamics in the glycome of plant cell walls revealed using monoclonal antibodies.   Gordon Research Conference — Plant Cell Walls (University of New England, Biddeford, ME).

Hahn MG , Bootten T, Davis R, Dong R, Freshour G, O’Neill MA, Pattahtil S, Popper Z, Rossi R, Swennes A, York WS, Zhao H.  2006.  Structural diversity and dynamics in the glycome of plant cell walls revealed using monoclonal antibodies.   8 ^th International Congress of Plant Molecular Biology, Adelaide, Australia.

Marshall SA , Piggott CO, Sheehy-Skeffington M, Popper ZA, Tuohy MG.  2006.  Biochemical analysis of aqueous extracts of two hedgerow fruits Rubus fruticosus agg. and Prunus spinosa. Irish Plant Scientists’ Association Meeting (Galway).

Popper ZA.  2006.  Evolution and Diversity of the Primary Cell Wall in Green Plants .  Irish Plant Scientists’ Association Meeting (Galway).

Popper ZA and Fry SC.  2004.  Occurrence and metabolism of xyloglucan–rhamnogalacturonan-I complexes. 10 ^th International Cell Wall Meeting (Sorrento).

Popper ZA.  2004.  Towards elucidation of the structure of xyloglucan–rhamnogalacturonan-I complexes. Scottish Cell Wall Group 14 ^th Annual Meeting (Glasgow).

Popper ZA, Sadler IH, Fry SC.  2003.  Evolution and Composition of Bryophyte Primary Cell Walls. British Bryological Society Meeting (Queen Mary College, London).

Popper ZA.  2003.  Synthesis of a covalent linkage between xyloglucan and acidic pectins in suspension-cultured Arabidopsis cells. Scottish Cell Wall Group 13 ^th Annual Meeting (Dundee).

Popper ZA.  2002.  Evidence for the widespread occurrence of a covalent linkage between xyloglucan and acidic pectins in suspension-cultured angiosperm cells. Scottish Cell Wall Group 12 ^th Annual Meeting (Paisley).

Popper ZA.  2000.  Evolution and Diversity of Plant Cell Walls. Scottish Cell Wall Group 10 ^th Annual Meeting (Edinburgh).

Invited lectures

Popper ZA. 2010. Multiple evolutionary mechanisms shape plant and algal cell wall composition. ITQB, Lisbon, Portugal. http://www.itqb.unl.pt/events/seminars/multiple-evolutionary-mechanisms-shape-plant-and-algal-cell-wall-composition.

Popper ZA. 2009. Diversity of Plant Cell Walls. University College Dublin, Ireland.

Popper ZA. 2009. The Diversity of Plant Cell Walls. Gordon Research Conference: Plant Cell Walls (Bryant University, Smithfield, RI, USA).

Popper ZA. 2006. Evolution and Diversity of Cell Walls. Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.

Popper ZA. 2003. Evolution and Composition of Bryophyte Primary Cell Walls. British Bryological Society Meeting. Queen Mary College, London, UK.

Popper ZA. 2001. Evolution and Diversity of Plant Cell Walls. Max Planck Institut für Pflanzenphysiologie, Gölm, Germany.

                      

 

Undergraduate Teaching

1st Year Biology (B O 101)

Introduction to Botany and Plant Science; fungal evolution, diversity, ecological significance and importance to humans; plant diversity and evolution; plant-animal interactions; plant-microbe interactions; plants on the campus and in local area; exploitation of plants by humans; use a medicines, to produce energy, textiles etc, plant biotechnology and conservation. 

2nd Year Botany: Aquatic Plant Science I (BT216)  

Introduction to plant physiology.  The processes that allow plants to use light to fix carbon; respond to daily and seasonal changes in quality and quantity of light; essential metabolic and developmental processes.  Particular focus is placed on aquatic plants and algae.

2nd Year Botany: Plants and Environment (BT217)

Plant physiology.  Selected aspects of plant physiology focussing on how plants survive different and often challenging environmental conditions including deserts, salty sea coasts, acidic peat bogs and freezing northern European winters.

Aquatic Plant Science II (BT317/BT318)

Covers plant tissue culture techniques, natural vegetative reproduction, micropropagation; plant hormones, their physiological effects and application in horticultural/agricultural; plant signalling mechanisms; plant secondary metabolites, their involvement in plant survival and potential use by humans, metabolic engineering.

Plant Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (BT403) 

Plant molecular biology; the genetic code, nucleic acid and protein biosynthesis, the Arabidopsis genome project and its impact, genetically modified organisms, the green revolution and traditional plant breeding, the evolution of wheat.  Plant genetic diversity and seed banking, plasticity, introgression, hybridization and speciation.  Plant biochemistry; plant cell wall structure and function, selected aspects of the plant cell wall in developmental processes.  

    

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