Microscopy & Plant Developmental Cell Biology

Guichuan Hou
Director, Research Assistant Professor of Biology
Ph. D., Idaho State University
Postdoctoral, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

Service: In charge of the Dewel Microscopy Facility – a multi-user core facility in the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS).

Teaching: Independent Study of Microscopy (Bio 5500 for graduate students and Bio 3500 for undergraduate students) that covers optical microscopy including laser scanning confocal microscopy and electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). (Previous teachings include Botany, Plant Physiology, and Traditional Chinese Medicines.)

Research: Plant root development – Roots play a critical role in growth and yield of vascular plants, such as crops and medicinal plants. Individual root development occurs primarily at the apical meristem while root system formation coordinates with shoot development and the organism as a whole. Research aiming to further our understanding of root development and root system formation has been conducted in the lab using the model species Ceratopteris richardii (triangle waterfern), Arabidopsis, and maize (corn, Zea mays).

NSF MRI Division of Biological Infrastrcture, DBI-0922697: Acquisition of a transmission electron microscope for the core, multi-user microscopy facility at Appalachian State University. $509,620; 08/2009 - 07/2012

Co-PI: AppalSEED Academy that is funded by Burroughs Welcome Fund. $180,000; 09/2008 - 08/2011

Selected Publications

• Gou, JY, LM Miller, G Hou, X Yu, XY Chen, and CJ Liu, 2012. Acetylesterase-mediated deacetylation of pectin impairs cell elongation, pollen germination, and plant reproduction. Plant Cell
http://www.plantcell.org/cgi/content/short/tpc.111.092411?keytype=ref&ijkey=wB9ZQShLKNRLxgu
• Hou, G and EB Blancaflor, Fern Root Development. In: Annual Plant reviews, (2009) 37: Root Development, (Edited by T. Beeckman), Blackwell Publishing Ltd, pp. 192-208.
• Mowa CN, T Li, S Jesmin, HG Folkesson, SE Usip, RE Papka, and G Hou, 2008. Delineation of VEGF-regulated genes and functions in the cervix of pregnant rodents by DNA microarray analysis. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 6:64 (1-10)
• Bernal, AJ, CM Yoo, M Mutwil, JK Jensen, G Hou, C Blaukopf, I Sørensen, EB Blancaflor, HV Scheller, and WGT Willats, 2008. Functional analysis of the cellulose synthase-like genes CSLD1, CSLD2, and CSLD4 in tip-growing Arabidopsis cells. Plant Physiology 148: 1238-1253
• Saleh A, R Alvarez-Venegas, M Yilmaz, Oahn-Le, G Hou, M Sadder, A Al-Abdallat, Y Xia, G Lu, I Ladunga, and Z Avramova, 2008. The highly similar Arabidopsis homologs of trithorax ATX1 and ATX2 encode divergent biochemical functions. The Plant Cell 20: 568-579
• Sarath G, G Hou, LM Baird, and RB Mitchell, 2007. Reactive oxygen species, ABA and nitric oxide interactions on the germination of warm-season C4-grasses. Planta 226: 697-708
• Addendum: Sarath G, G Hou, LM Baird, and RB Mitchell, 2007. ABA, ROS and NO are Key Players during Switchgrass Seed Germination. Plant Signaling & Behavior 2(6): 492-493
• Sarath G, PC Bethke, R Jones, LM Baird, G Hou, RB Mitchell, 2006. Nitric oxide accelerates seed germination in warm-1 season grasses. Planta 223: 1154-1164
• Qu F, H Ye, G Hou, S Sato, TE Clemente, and TJ Morris, 2005. RDR6 has a broad spectrum but temperature-dependent antiviral defense role in Nicotiana benthamiana. Journal of Virology 79: 15209-15217
• Hou G, VL Kramer, YS Wang, R Chen, G Perbal, S Gilroy, and EB Blancaflor, 2004. The promotion of gravitropism in Arabidopsis roots upon actin disruption is coupled with the extended alkalinization of the columella cytoplasm and a persistent lateral auxin gradient. The Plant Journal 39: 113-125 (with journal cover image)
• Hou, G and JP Hill, 2004. Developmental anatomy of the fifth shoot-borne root in young sporophytes of Ceratopteris richardii. Planta 219: 212–220
• Hou, G, JP Hill, and EB Blancaflor, 2004. Developmental anatomy and auxin response of lateral root formation in Ceratopteris richardii. Journal of Experimental Botany 55(397): 685-693
• Blancaflor, EB, G Hou, and KD Chapman, 2003. Elevated levels of N-lauroylethanolamine, an endogenous constituent of desiccated seeds, disrupt normal root development in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. Planta 217: 206-217
• Hou, G, DR Mohamalawari, and EB Blancaflor, 2003. Enhanced gravitropism of roots with a disrupted cap actin cytoskeleton. Plant Physiology 131(3): 1360-1373
• Blancaflor, EB, G Hou, and DR Mohamalawari, 2003. The promotive effect of latrunculin B on maize root gravitropism is concentration dependent. Advances in Space Research 31: 2215-2220
• Hou, G and JP Hill, 2002. Heteroblastic root development in Ceratopteris richardii (Parkeriaceae). International Journal of Plant Sciences 163(3): 341-351 (with journal cover image)
• Deputy editor-in-chief, Introduction to Veterinary and Clinical Practice. China Agriculture Press, 1996.5, Beijing
• Deputy editor-in-chief, Feed Additives from Traditional Chinese Medicines. China Agricultural Science and Technology Press, 1994.4, Beijing