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Torii, Keiko
Office: 206-221-5701
Lab: 206-221-5756
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Building/room: HCK 544
Mailbox: 351800

Keiko Torii's picture

Biography

Professional Preparation

B.S. (1987), M.S. (1989), Ph.D. (1993): Biology (major in Biochemistry and Biophysics). Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan

Positions

Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI-GBMF) 2011-

Distinguised Professor of Biology 2011-

Investigator, PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency 2008-2012

Professor, Department of Biology, University of Washington 2009

Associate Professor, Department of Biology, University of Washington 2005

Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, University of Washington 2002

Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, University of Washington 1999

Affiliate Faculty, University of Washington Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine 2006-

Research Overview

The goal of research in the Torii lab is to elucidate the molecular and cellular bases of the functional tissue patterning, stem cell maintenance and differentitation, and cell-fate specification in plants.

We discovered that three receptor kinases that regulate cell proliferation and organ growth together control stomatal patterning. Stomata are turgor-driven valves on the surface of land plants. Stomata play critical roles for gas exchange between plants and atmosphere for carbon fixation, respiration, and transpiration (i.e. water movement). Our latest breakthrough includes the identification of master regulatory genes and ligand-receptor pairs that direct asymmetric cell division and stomatal differentiation. Our research opens a door to understand the fundamental genetic and cellular signaling mechanisms that govern two critical aspects of plant functions, organ growth and stomatal development.

Selected Publications

Lee, JS, Kuroha T, Hnilova M, Khatayevich D, Kanaoka MM, McAbee JM, Sarikaya M, Tamerler C, Torii KU.  2012.  Direct interaction of ligand-receptor pairs specifying stomatal patterning.. Genes & development. Abstract
Pillitteri, LJ, Peterson KM, Horst RJ, Torii KU.  2011.  Molecular profiling of stomatal meristemoids reveals new component of asymmetric cell division and commonalities among stem cell populations in Arabidopsis.. Plant Cell. 23(9):3260-75. Abstract
Karve, R, Liu W, Willet SG, Torii KU, Shpak ED.  2011.  The presence of multiple introns is essential for ERECTA expression in Arabidopsis.. RNA . 17(10):1907-21. Abstract
van Zanten, M, Basten Snoek L, van Eck-Stouten E, Proveniers MC, Torii KU, Voesenek LA, Peeters AJ, Millenaar FF.  2010.  Ethylene-induced hyponastic growth in Arabidopsis thaliana is controlled by ERECTA. Plant J. 61(1):83-95.
Kanaoka, MM, Torii KU.  2010.  FERONIA as an upstream receptor kinase for polar cell growth in plants.. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 107(41):17461-2.
Guseman, JM, Lee JS, Bogenschutz NL, Peterson KM, Virata RE, Xie B, Kanaoka MM, Hong Z, Torii KU.  2010.  Dysregulation of cell-to-cell connectivity and stomatal patterning by loss-of-function mutation in Arabidopsis chorus (glucan synthase-like 8). Development. 137(10):1731-41.
Peterson, KM, Rychel AL, Torii KU.  2010.  Out of the mouths of plants: the molecular basis of the evolution and diversity of stomatal development. Plant Cell. 22(2):296-306.
Hara, K, Yokoo T, Kajita R, Onishi T, Yahata S, Peterson KM, Torii KU, Kakimoto T.  2009.  Epidermal cell density is autoregulated via a secretory peptide, EPIDERMAL PATTERNING FACTOR 2 in Arabidopsis leaves. Plant Cell Physiol. 50(6):1019-31.
Kanaoka, MM, Pillitteri LJ, Fujii H, Yoshida Y, Bogenschutz NL, Takabayashi J, Zhu JK, Torii KU.  2008.  SCREAM/ICE1 and SCREAM2 specify three cell-state transitional steps leading to arabidopsis stomatal differentiation. Plant Cell. 20(7):1775-85.
Pillitteri, LJ, Bogenschutz NL, Torii KU.  2008.  The bHLH protein, MUTE, controls differentiation of stomata and the hydathode pore in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell Physiol. 49(6):934-43.
Bemis, SM, Torii KU.  2007.  Autonomy of cell proliferation and developmental programs during Arabidopsis aboveground organ morphogenesis. Dev Biol. 304(1):367-81.
Hara, K, Kajita R, Torii KU, Bergmann DC, Kakimoto T.  2007.  The secretory peptide gene EPF1 enforces the stomatal one-cell-spacing rule. Genes Dev. 21(14):1720-5.
Pillitteri, LJ, Bemis SM, Shpak ED, Torii KU.  2007.  Haploinsufficiency after successive loss of signaling reveals a role for ERECTA-family genes in Arabidopsis ovule development. Development. 134(17):3099-109.
Pillitteri, LJ, Sloan DB, Bogenschutz NL, Torii KU.  2007.  Termination of asymmetric cell division and differentiation of stomata. Nature. 445(7127):501-5.
Pillitteri, LJ, Torii KU.  2007.  Breaking the silence: three bHLH proteins direct cell-fate decisions during stomatal development. Bioessays. 29(9):861-70.
Woodward, C, Bemis SM, Hill EJ, Sawa S, Koshiba T, Torii KU.  2005.  Interaction of auxin and ERECTA in elaborating Arabidopsis inflorescence architecture revealed by the activation tagging of a new member of the YUCCA family putative flavin monooxygenases. Plant Physiol. 139(1):192-203.
Shpak, ED, McAbee JM, Pillitteri LJ, Torii KU.  2005.  Stomatal patterning and differentiation by synergistic interactions of receptor kinases. Science. 309(5732):290-3.
Shpak, ED, Berthiaume CT, Hill EJ, Torii KU.  2004.  Synergistic interaction of three ERECTA-family receptor-like kinases controls Arabidopsis organ growth and flower development by promoting cell proliferation. Development. 131(7):1491-501.
Torii, KU.  2004.  Leucine-rich repeat receptor kinases in plants: structure, function, and signal transduction pathways. Int Rev Cytol. 234:1-46.
Shpak, ED, Lakeman MB, Torii KU.  2003.  Dominant-negative receptor uncovers redundancy in the Arabidopsis ERECTA Leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase signaling pathway that regulates organ shape. Plant Cell. 15(5):1095-110.