Research Summary

The underlying research theme in the Stern laboratory is nuclear-cytoplasmic interactions. Within this framework, we study how chloroplast genes and metabolic activities are regulated by the products of nuclear genes, usually acting at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level. Chloroplasts, as the site of photosynthesis as well as other metabolic pathways, have numerous roles in plant development, and responses to environmental stimuli. Our laboratory focuses on how these roles are modulated through intensive studies of global and individual gene regulation under normal growth or stress conditions. We use different techniques including genetics, plant transformation, and biochemistry to unravel these processes.