Associate Professor
Director Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Bioinformatics (MB3)
Department of Biological Sciences
Towson University
Towson, MD 21252 USA
Office: Smith 360
Phone: 410-704-2766
Fax: 410-704-2405
email: lwimmers@towson.edu
Education:
Ph.D. Cornell University
B.S. University of Dayton
Courses Taught:
BIOL 201 - Cellular Biology and Genetics
BIOL 409 - Molecular Biology
BIOL 410 - Molecular Biology Laboratory
BIOL 436 - Plant Physiology
BIOL 485 – Seminar in Applied Biotechnology
BIOL 616 - Membrane Biology
Research Interests:
I am interested in several aspects of membrane transport in plants and how plants respond to environmental stress.
Projects that are currently being pursued include the control of sodium and calcium levels in plants exposed to saline
soils, the control of gene expression under salt stress, the transport of heavy metals into and out of plant chloroplasts
and the evolution of plants in response to the urban environment.
I am also involved in two collaborative projects with Dr. Roland Roberts. In one, we are carrying out genetic analysis of Theobroma cacao (chocolate) germplasm collections in collaboration with the Cocoa Research Institute of the University of West Indies. In the other, we are investigating the genetic structure and salt resistance of Solidago sempevirens (seaside goldenrod), a salt resistant plant that has recently expanded its range to include roadsides in inland areas.
Publications:
Mito, N., L.E. Wimmers, A.B. Bennett. 1996. Sugar regulates mRNA abundance of H+-ATPase gene family members in
tomato. Plant Physiology 112:1229-1236.
Hentzen, A.H., L.B. Smart, L.E. Wimmers, H. Fang, J.I. Schroeder, A.B. Bennett. 1996. Two plasma membrane H+-ATPase
genes expressed in guard cells of Vicia faba are also expressed throughout the plant. Plant and Cell Physiol. 37:650-659.
Wimmers, L.E. 2001. Practicing real science in the laboratory. Journal of College Science Teaching. Journal of College
Science Teaching 31:167-1711.
Kalampanyil, B, Wimmers, L.E. 2001. Identification and Characterization of a Salt Stress Induced Plasma Membrane H+-ATPase
in Tomato. Plant Cell and Environment. Plant Cell and Environment 24:999-1005.
Johnson, L.S., L.E. Wimmers, S. Campbell, L. Hamilton. 2003. Growth rate, size, and sex ratio of last-laid, last-hatched offspring
in the Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor. Journal of Avian Biology. 34:35-43.
Shingles, R., Wimmers, L.E., McCarty, R.E. 2004 Copper transport across pea (Pisum sativum L.) thylakoid membrane vesicles.
Plant Physiology. 135:145-151.
Offspring Sex vs. Position in the Laying Sequence in Wyoming House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon): a Second Look. 2005 Animal
Behaviour. 70:1323-1329. Johnson, L. S., L. E. Wimmers, B. G. Hicks, R. Molinaro, R. C. Milkie, B. S. Gallagher and B. S. Masters.
Graduate Students:
Chris Phillips (Non-Thesis) Identification and characterization of a genomic clone of a plant Ca+ pump.
Andre Wells (Non-Thesis): Genotype analysis of Theobroma cacao germplasm collection
Bose Kalampaniyl (PhD 2007): Analysis of the proteome of drought and salt stress in tomato.
Bose Kalampaniyl (MS 2001): Cloning and characterization of a salt-stress induced plant H+ pump.
Kavitha Gangapuran (MS 2005): Control of gene expression at transcription and translation in plant under salt stress.
Stephen Kirby (MS 2002): Development of a catalytic scavenger for organo-phosphate nerve agents.
Undergraduate Students:
Alyssa Laird: Genetic structure of Solidago sempervirens L. (seaside goldenrod)
Nyshia Garcia: Genotype analysis of Theobroma cacao germplasm collection and Genetic structure of Solidago sempervirens L. (seaside goldenrod)
Chebueze Amaefule: Genotype analysis of Theobroma cacao germplasm collection
James Beardsley: Genotype analysis of Theobroma cacao germplasm collection