Embryonic stem cell self-renewal
We are mapping the regulatory networks that enable human and mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell self-renewal. Whole cell proteome profiles using LC ESI MSMS are revealing new genes whose products are unique to ES cells. Whole phosphopeptide profiles have shown us that many of these regulators of self-renewal are phosphorylated. We are working to determine the significance of this phosphorylation and to identify the protein kinases that are responsible. Our aim is to bridge the gap between studies of transcriptional regulation and cell signaling in ES cells.
Plant infectious disease
We are studying the protein determinants of disease and disease resistance in plants to infection by the nematode, Meloidogyne incognita. Whole tissue proteome profiles using LC ESI MSMS are revealing new genes whose products are induced or repressed by infection. Whole phosphopeptide profiles have shown us that many induced regulatory proteins are phosphorylated. We are working to determine the significance of this phosphorylation by mutant analysis and by identifying proteins that co-immunoprecipitate. Our goals are to understand the recognition and signaling systems that lead to susceptibility in one instance and resistance in the other, and to create new mechanisms for recognition and disease resistance.
Selected peer-reviewed publications 2002-2006
Goff et al. (2002). A draft sequence of the rice genome (Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica). Science; 296:92-100.
Paszkowski U et al. (2002). Rice phosphate transporters include an evolutionarily divergent gene specifically activated in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA; 99:13324-9.
Guan X et al. (2002). Heritable endogenous gene regulation in plants with designed polydactyl zinc finger transcription factors. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA; 99:13296-301.
Multani DS et al. (2003). Loss of an MDR transporter in compact stalks of maize br2 and sorghum dw3 mutants. Science; 302:81-4.
Tachikawa K et al. (2004). Regulation of the endogenous VEGF-A gene by exogenous designed regulatory proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA; 101:15225-30.
Briggs SP and T Singer. (2005). Genetic networks. Plant Physiol Jun;138(2):542-4.
Güimil S, et al. (2005). Comparative transcriptomics of rice reveals an ancient pattern of response to microbial colonization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 102:8066-70.
Rasala BA, et al. (2006). ELYS is a dual nucleoporin/kinetochore protein required for nuclear pore assembly and proper cell division. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Nov 21;103(47):17801-6.
Orjalo AV et al. (2006). The Nup107-160 Nucleoporin Complex Is Required for Correct Bipolar Spindle Assembly. Mol Biol Cell 2006 Sep;17(9):3806-18.
Singer T et al. (2006). A High-Resolution Map of Arabidopsis Recombinant Inbred Lines by Whole-Genome Exon Array Hybridization. PLoS Genetics Sep 15;2(9):e144.
Shen Z et al. (2006). Use of high-throughput LC-MSMS proteomics technologies in drug discovery. Drug Discovery Today. 3:301-306.
Tachikawa K and SP Briggs. (2006). Targeting the human genome. Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 17:659–665.
Steve Briggs received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University and spent the first half of his career in industry, most recently as Sr. Vice President for Corporate Research at Diversa. Previously he was President of Torrey Mesa Research Institute and before that he was Director at Pioneer/DuPont for several research areas including genomics. Briggs has been Co-editor of The Plant Cell; he serves on the Scientific Advisory Board, Keystone Symposia and the Board of Advisors, Plant Sciences Institute, Iowa State University; he is a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
