David Weston: Plant Genomics Group

Biosciences Division
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Telephone : (865)-241-8323
Email : westondj@ornl.gov
Fax : (865)-576-9939
Google Scholar Profile

David J. Weston

Research Staff

PhD, Clemson University, 2006
M.S., Cornell University, 2001
B.S., Cornell University, 1998

Research Interests:

Our research is motivated by a desire to further our understanding of the underling genetics driving plant traits critical to organismal performance and terrestrial C cycle dynamics under changing climatic conditions. Our lab takes an integrated approach using high-throughput genomic technologies, biochemistry and genetics, all placed within a physiological framework to answer our research questions. Unique to our approach is the use of network and systems biology modeling approaches to correlate groups of genes and metabolites to physiological process (e.g., photosynthesis, respiration, microbial associates)

Current projects include the Department of Energy BER sponsored plant-microbe interaction project pmi.ornl.gov, two ecological projects targeting high-latitude ecosystems (SPRUCE; mnspruce.ornl.gov, NGEE; ngee.ornl.gov), and a computational project (KBase; kbase.us to further bioinformatic workflows and statistical model development aimed at harnessing next-generation sequencing technology.

The moss Sphagnum is a new study organism in our lab as it is a key member in peatland and arctic ecosystems that account for vast stores in terrestrial carbon. Whether these ecosystems continue to store carbon in response to changing climatic conditions remains an open question. This makes Sphagnum arguably the most important plant genus governing terrestrial carbon cycling. Our lab is pioneering the use of Sphagnum for ecological genomics studies and we are currently funded to generate a neutron-based mutagenesis population, a QTL mapping pedigree, and conduct RNA-Seq and physiological investigations.

Publications:

In Press

Souza L, Weston DJ, Sanders NJ, Karve A, Crutsinger GM, and Classen AT (in press) Variation from individuals to ecosystems in the response to climatic warming: a test with Solidago altissima. Ecosphere
Weston DJ, Hanson PJ, Norby RJ, Gerald A. Tuskan GA, Wullschleger SD (in press) From systems biology to photosynthesis and whole-plant physiology: a conceptual model for integrating multi-scale networks. Plant Signaling & Behavior

JM Warren, CM Iversen, CT Garten Jr, RJ Norby, J Childs, D Brice, RM Evans, L Gu, P Thornton, DJ Weston. 2011. Timing and magnitude of C partitioning through a young loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) stand using 13C labeling and shade treatments. Tree Physiology, doi:10.1093/treephys/tpr129
Weston D.J., A. A. Karve, L.E. Gunter, S.A. Jawdy, X. Yang, S.M. Allen, S.D. Wullschleger. 2011. Comparative physiology and transcriptional networks underlying the heat shock response in Populus trichocarpa, Arabidopsis thaliana and Glycine max. Plant Cell and Environment Volume: 34 Issue: 9 Pages: 1488-1506
Guo, Jianjun; Yang, Xiaohan; Weston, David J.; et al. 2011. Abscisic Acid Receptors: Past, Present and Future. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology Volume: 53 Issue: 6 Pages: 469-479.
Guo J., S. Wang, O. Valerius, H. Hall, Q. Zeng, J. Li, D.J. Weston, B.E. Ellis, and J. Chen. 2010. Involvement of Arabidopsis RACK1 in protein translation and its regulation by abscisic acid. Plant Physiol. 155: 370-383.
Wullschleger, S.D., D.J. Weston, J.M. Davis. 2009. Populus responses to edaphic and climatic cues: Emerging evidence from systems biology research. Critical Reviews in Plant Science 28: 368-374
Leakey, A.D.B., E.A. Ainsworth, S.M. Bernard, C.R. Markelz, D.R. Ort, S.A. Placella, A. Rogers, M.D. Smith, E.A. Sudderth, D.J. Weston, S.D. Wullschleger, S. Yuan. 2008. Gene expression profiling – opening the black box of plant ecosystem responses to global. Accepted Global Change Biology doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2008.01818.x
Yang, X., U.C. Kalluri, S. Jawdy, L.E. Gunter, Y. Tongming, T. Tschaplinski, D.J. Weston, R. Priya, G.A. Tuskan. 2008. F-box gene family is expanded in herbaceous annual plants Arabidopsis and Rice relative to woody perennial plant Populus. Plant Phys. 148: 1189-1200.
David J. Weston, Lee E. Gunter, Alistair Rogers, and Stan D. Wullschleger. 2008. Connecting Genes, Coexpression Modules, and Molecular Signatures to Environmental Stress Phenotypes in Plants. BMC Systems Biology.
Weston, D.J. and W.L. Bauerle. 2007. Inhibition and acclimation of C3 photosynthesis to moderate heat: A perspective from thermally contrasting genotypes of Acer rubrum L. Tree Physiology
Weston, D.J., W.L. Bauerle, G.A. Swire-Clarke, B.D. Moore, and W. V. Baird. 2007. Characterization of Rubisco activase from thermally contrasting genotypes of Acer rubrum L. In press: The American Journal of Botany
King, A.W., C.A. Gunderson, W.M. Post, D.J. Weston and S.D. Wullschleger. 2006. Plant Respiration in a Warmer World. Science. 312:536-537
Bauerle, W.L., D.J. Weston, J.D. Bowden, J.B. Dudley, and J.E. Toler. 2004. Leaf absorptance of photosynthetically active radiation in relation to chlorophyll meter estimates among woody plant species. Scientia Horticulturae, 101:169-178.

Book Chapters

X. Yang, T. Li, D Weston, A. Karve, J Labbe, L Gunter, P. Sukumar, A. Borland, J.G. Chen, S. Wullschleger, T. Tschaplinski, G. Tuskan Book chapter in Biofuels. Innovative Biological Solutions to Challenges in Sustainable Biofuels Production, 2011
Wullschleger, S.D., D.J. Weston. book chapter box in Resource Conservation and Management. Microarrays and molecular phenotypes, 2010

Plant Genomics Group