Mark Spiro

Biology Department

Contact Information
Biology Building 302
spiro@bucknell.edu
570-577-3486

Educational Background
Ph.D., University of Georgia
B.S., University of Massachusetts

Research Interests
My research interests focus on molecular and cellular aspects of plant growth and development. Specifically we are studying the effects of plant hormones including the oligosaccharins, a group of plant hormones derived from the cell wall. Of particular interest are the role of phytohormones on intact plants and the evolution of developmental processes within the plant kingdom. The processes that we are currently investigating are the role of auxin and cytokinin on growth regulation and cell differentiation in C-fern gametophytes (Ceratopteris richardii), and the role of auxin and oligogalacturonides (pectic oligosaccharins) in growth regulation in the roots of intact cucumber seedlings.

Courses Taught
Biology 206 - Organismal Biology (Plant Section)
Biology 316 - Plant Growth and Development
Biology 339 - Developmental Biology

Selected Publications
Spiro M.D., J.F. Bowers, and D.C. Cosgrove. 2002. A Comparison of Oligogalacturonide- and Auxin-Induced Extracellular Alkalinization and Growth Responses in Roots of Intact Cucumber Seedlings. Plant Physiology 130, 895-303.

Mathieu Y., J. Guern, M.D. Spiro, M.A. O Neill, K. A. Kates, A.G. Darvill and P. Albersheim. 1998. The transient nature of the oligogalacturonide-induced membrane responses of tobacco cells is not correlated with fragmentation of the oligogalacturonides. Plant Journal 16, 305-311.

Spiro M.D., B.L. Ridley, S. Eberhard, K.A. Kates, Y. Mathieu, M.A. O Neill, D. Mohnen, J. Guern, A.G. Darvill and P. Albersheim. 1998. Biological activity of reducing-end derivatized oligogalacturonides in tobacco tissue cultures. Plant Physiology 116, 1289-1298.

Spiro, M.D., B.L. Ridley, J. Glushka, A.G. Darvill and P. Albersheim. 1996. Synthesis and characterization of tyramine-derivatized 1,4-linked a-D-oligogalacturonides. Carbohydr. Res. 290:147-157.

Ridley, B.L., M.D. Spiro, J. Glushka, P. Albersheim and A.G. Darvill. 1996. A Method for Biotin Labeling of Biologically Active Oligogalacturonides Using a Chemically Stable Hydrazide Linkage. Anal. Biochem. 249, 10-19.

Spiro, M.D., K.A. Kates, A.G. Koller, M.A. O Neill, P. Albersheim, and A. Darvill. 1993. Purification and characterization of biologically active 1,4-linked a-D-oligogalacturonides after partial digestion of polyglacturonic acid with endopolygalacturonase. Carbohydr. Res. 247:9-20.

Mathieu, Y., A. Kurkdijan, H. Xia, J. Guern, A. Koller, M. Spiro, M. O Neill, P. Albersheim, and A. Darvill. 1991. Membrane responses induced by oligogalacturonides in suspension-cultured tobacco cells. Plant. J. 1:333-343.