Kelly Houston
My broad research interests are in the genetics of grain compostion, and how this can be understood and improved for the different end uses of the grain.
My current research is on the identification, validation and understanding of interactions between genes influencing the different polysaccharides within the plant cell walls using a range of contemporary genetic techniques, in particular but not exclusively in barley. I have strong links to the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls, University of Adelaide and La Trobe University, and currently collaborate on multiple projects, including shared supervision of postgraduate students, with these groups. Most of this work is focused on gaining a better understanding of the regulation of (1,3;1,4)-beta-glucan synthesis in the grasses, and in particular the role of the cellulose synthase like (Csl) genes in barley. (1,3;1,4)-beta-glucan in the grain is of notable interest as this polysaccharide has been shown to be beneficial for human health but detrimental to the brewing and distilling industry.
Barley grain contains a range of micronutrients, some of which can have a detrimental impact on the plant/ human health. Identfiying genes that influence the grain content of these micrnutrients can therefore be beneficial.
Additionally I am interested in the genetics underlying the flavour component provided by malted barley, and if different cultivars provide different flavour profiles.
Current research interests
The interest in studying (1,3;1,4)-beta-glucan in barley originates from the health benefits that can be obtained from including (1,3;1,4)-beta-glucan in the daily dietary fibre intake. Barley and oats contain higher levels of (1,3;1,4)-beta-glucan compared to wheat and rice. In 2005 the US Food and Drugs administration (FDA) approved the claim that whole grain barley and barley-containing products containing at least 0.75 grams of soluble (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan fibre per 228 g serving reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Exploiting a range of molecular genomic and genetic techniques and resources, we aim to define the functional diversity and regulation of the Csl gene families that mediate the synthesis of (1,3;1,4)-beta-glucan, a plant cell wall polysaccharide found in commercially important grasses and cereals.
Past research
My previous work as a postdoctoral research associate at the James Hutton institute involved fine mapping, identification and characterisation of genes influencing morphological traits in barley such as spike density (ZEOCRITON), awn development (LKS1) and glume development (Trd1). This was carried out as part of the EU funded BARCODE project with Robbie Waugh, Arnis Druka, Nils Stein and Michele Morgante.
- 2009-2011 – PDRA – BARCODE project – Scottish Crop Research Institute (now the James Hutton Institute).
- 2005-2009 – PhD – Ecotypic variation and population structure in grassland plant species – Newcastle University.
Bibliography
- Garcia-Gimenez, G.; Russell, J.; Aubert, M.K.; Fincher, G.B.; Burton, R.A.; Waugh, R.; Tucker, M.R.; Houston, K. (2019) Barley grain (1,3;1,4)-beta-glucan content: effects of transcript and sequence variation in genes encoding the corresponding synthase and endohydrolase enzymes., Scientific Reports, 9, Article No. 17250.
- Tucker, M.R.; Lou, H.Y.; Aubert, M.K.; Wilkinson, L.G.; Little, A.; Houston, K.; Pinto, S.C.; Shirley, N.J. (2018) Exploring the role of cell wall-related genes and polysaccharides during plant development., Plants, 7, Article No. 42.
- Sakuma, S.; Lundqvist, U.; Kakei, Y.; Thirulogachandar, V.; Suzuki, T.; Hori, K.; Wu, J.Z.; Tagiri, A.; Rutten, T.; Koppolu, R.; Shimada, Y.; Houston, K.; Thomas, W.T.B.; Waugh, R.; Schnurbusch, T.; Komatsuda, T. (2017) Extreme suppression of lateral floret development by a single amino acid change in the VRS1 transcription factor., Plant Physiology, 175, 1720-1731.
- Hassan, A.S.; Houston, K.; Lahnstein, J.; Shirley, N.; Schwerdt, J.G.; Gidley, M.J.; Waugh, R.; Little, A.; Burton, R.A. (2017) A genome wide association study of arabinoxylan content in 2-row spring barley grain., PLoS ONE, 12, Article No. e0182537.
- Colasuonno, P.; Lozito, M.L.; Marcotuli, I.; Nigro, D.; Giancaspro, A.; Mangini, G.; De Vita, P.; Mastrangelo, A.M.; Pecchioni, N.; Houston, K.; Simeone, R.; Gadaleta, A.; Blanco, A. (2017) The carotenoid biosynthetic and catabolic genes in wheat and their association with yellow pigments., BMC Genomics, 18, Article No.122.
- Zhang, R.X.; Tucker, M.R.; Burton, R.A.; Shirley, N.J.; Little, A.; Morris, J.; Milne, L.; Houston, K.; Hedley, P.E.; Waugh, R.; Fincher, G.B. (2016) The dynamics of transcript abundance during cellularization of developing barley endosperm., Plant Physiology, 170, 1549-1565.
- Marcotuli, I.; Houston, K.; Schwerdt, J.G.; Waugh, R.; Fincher, G.B.; Burton, R.A.; Blanco, A.; Gadaleta, A. (2016) Genetic diversity and genome wide association study of beta-glucan content in tetraploid wheat grains., PLoS ONE, 11, Article No. e0152590
- Houston, K.; Tucker, M.R.; Chowdhury, J.; Shirley, N.; Little, A. (2016) The plant cell wall: a complex and dynamic structure as revealed by the responses of genes under stress conditions., Frontiers in Plant Science, 7, Article No. 984.
- Houston, K.; Burton, R.A.; Sznajder, B.; Rafalski, A.J.; Dhugga, K.S.; Mather, D.E.; Taylor, J.; Steffenson, B.J.; Waugh, R.; Fincher, G.B. (2015) A genome-wide association study for culm cellulose content in barley reveals candidate genes co-expressed with members of the cellulose synthase a gene family., PLoS ONE, 10, Article No.e0130890.
- Marcotuli, I.; Houston, K.; Waugh, R.; Fincher, G.B.; Burton, R.A.; Blanco, A.; Gadaleta, A. (2015) Genome wide association mapping for Arabinoxylan content in a collection of tetraploid wheats., PLoS ONE, 10, Article No. e0132787
- Houston, K.; Russell, J.; Schreiber, M.; Halpin, C.; Oakey, H.; Washington, J.M.; Booth, A.; Shirley, N.; Burton, R.A.; Fincher, G.B.; Waugh, R. (2014) A genome wide association scan for (1,3;1,4)-beta-glucan content in the grain of contemporary 2-row Spring and Winter barleys., BMC Genomics, 15, Article No. 907.
- Houston, K.; McKim, S.; Comadran, J.; Bonar, N.; Druka, I.; Uzrek, E.; Cirillo, E.; Guzy-Wrobelska, J.; Collins, N.; Halpin, C.; Hansson, M.; Dockter, C.; Druka, A.; Waugh, R. (2013) Variation in the interaction between alleles of HvAPETALA2 and microRNA172 determines the density of grains on the barley inflorescence., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), 110, 16675-16680.
- Houston, K.; Wolff, K. (2012) Rhinanthus minor population genetic structure and subspecies: Potential seed sources of a keystone species in grassland restoration projects., Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics, 14, 423-433.
- Houston, K.; Druka, A.; Bonar, N.; Macaulay, M.; Lundqvist, U.; Franckowiak, J.D.; Morgante, M.; Stein, N.; Waugh, R. (2012) Analysis of the barley bract suppression gene Trd1., Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 125, 33-45.
- Druka, A.; Franckowiak, J.D.; Lundqvist, U.; Bonar, N.; Alexander, J.; Houston, K.; Radovic, S.; Shahinnia, F.; Vendramin, V.; Morgante, M.; Stein, N.; Waugh, R. (2011) Genetic dissection of barley morphology and development., Plant Physiology, 155, 617-627.
- Druka, A.; Franckowiak, J.D.; Lundqvist, U.; Bonar, N.; Alexander, J.; Guzy-Wrobelska, J.; Ramsay, L.; Druka, I.; Grant, I.; Macaulay, M.; Vendramin, V.; Shahinnia, F.; Radovic, S.; Houston, K.; Harrap, D.; Cardle, L.; Marshall, D.F.; Morgante, M.; Stein, N.; Waugh, R. (2010) Exploiting induced variation to dissect quantitative traits in barley., Biochemical Society Transactions, 38, 683-688.
- Garcia-Gimenez, G.; Russell, J.; Aubert, M.K.; Fincher, G.B.; Burton, R.A.; Waugh, R.; Tucker, M.R.; Houston, K. (2019) Barley grain (1,3;1,4)-beta-glucan content: effects of transcript and sequence variation in genes encoding the corresponding synthase and endohydrolase enzymes., Scientific Reports, 9, Article No. 17250.
- Tucker, M.R.; Lou, H.Y.; Aubert, M.K.; Wilkinson, L.G.; Little, A.; Houston, K.; Pinto, S.C.; Shirley, N.J. (2018) Exploring the role of cell wall-related genes and polysaccharides during plant development., Plants, 7, Article No. 42.
- Sakuma, S.; Lundqvist, U.; Kakei, Y.; Thirulogachandar, V.; Suzuki, T.; Hori, K.; Wu, J.Z.; Tagiri, A.; Rutten, T.; Koppolu, R.; Shimada, Y.; Houston, K.; Thomas, W.T.B.; Waugh, R.; Schnurbusch, T.; Komatsuda, T. (2017) Extreme suppression of lateral floret development by a single amino acid change in the VRS1 transcription factor., Plant Physiology, 175, 1720-1731.
- Hassan, A.S.; Houston, K.; Lahnstein, J.; Shirley, N.; Schwerdt, J.G.; Gidley, M.J.; Waugh, R.; Little, A.; Burton, R.A. (2017) A genome wide association study of arabinoxylan content in 2-row spring barley grain., PLoS ONE, 12, Article No. e0182537.
- Colasuonno, P.; Lozito, M.L.; Marcotuli, I.; Nigro, D.; Giancaspro, A.; Mangini, G.; De Vita, P.; Mastrangelo, A.M.; Pecchioni, N.; Houston, K.; Simeone, R.; Gadaleta, A.; Blanco, A. (2017) The carotenoid biosynthetic and catabolic genes in wheat and their association with yellow pigments., BMC Genomics, 18, Article No.122.
- Zhang, R.X.; Tucker, M.R.; Burton, R.A.; Shirley, N.J.; Little, A.; Morris, J.; Milne, L.; Houston, K.; Hedley, P.E.; Waugh, R.; Fincher, G.B. (2016) The dynamics of transcript abundance during cellularization of developing barley endosperm., Plant Physiology, 170, 1549-1565.
- Marcotuli, I.; Houston, K.; Schwerdt, J.G.; Waugh, R.; Fincher, G.B.; Burton, R.A.; Blanco, A.; Gadaleta, A. (2016) Genetic diversity and genome wide association study of beta-glucan content in tetraploid wheat grains., PLoS ONE, 11, Article No. e0152590
- Houston, K.; Tucker, M.R.; Chowdhury, J.; Shirley, N.; Little, A. (2016) The plant cell wall: a complex and dynamic structure as revealed by the responses of genes under stress conditions., Frontiers in Plant Science, 7, Article No. 984.
- Houston, K.; Burton, R.A.; Sznajder, B.; Rafalski, A.J.; Dhugga, K.S.; Mather, D.E.; Taylor, J.; Steffenson, B.J.; Waugh, R.; Fincher, G.B. (2015) A genome-wide association study for culm cellulose content in barley reveals candidate genes co-expressed with members of the cellulose synthase a gene family., PLoS ONE, 10, Article No.e0130890.
- Marcotuli, I.; Houston, K.; Waugh, R.; Fincher, G.B.; Burton, R.A.; Blanco, A.; Gadaleta, A. (2015) Genome wide association mapping for Arabinoxylan content in a collection of tetraploid wheats., PLoS ONE, 10, Article No. e0132787
- Houston, K.; Russell, J.; Schreiber, M.; Halpin, C.; Oakey, H.; Washington, J.M.; Booth, A.; Shirley, N.; Burton, R.A.; Fincher, G.B.; Waugh, R. (2014) A genome wide association scan for (1,3;1,4)-beta-glucan content in the grain of contemporary 2-row Spring and Winter barleys., BMC Genomics, 15, Article No. 907.
- Houston, K.; McKim, S.; Comadran, J.; Bonar, N.; Druka, I.; Uzrek, E.; Cirillo, E.; Guzy-Wrobelska, J.; Collins, N.; Halpin, C.; Hansson, M.; Dockter, C.; Druka, A.; Waugh, R. (2013) Variation in the interaction between alleles of HvAPETALA2 and microRNA172 determines the density of grains on the barley inflorescence., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), 110, 16675-16680.
- Houston, K.; Wolff, K. (2012) Rhinanthus minor population genetic structure and subspecies: Potential seed sources of a keystone species in grassland restoration projects., Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics, 14, 423-433.
- Houston, K.; Druka, A.; Bonar, N.; Macaulay, M.; Lundqvist, U.; Franckowiak, J.D.; Morgante, M.; Stein, N.; Waugh, R. (2012) Analysis of the barley bract suppression gene Trd1., Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 125, 33-45.
- Druka, A.; Franckowiak, J.D.; Lundqvist, U.; Bonar, N.; Alexander, J.; Houston, K.; Radovic, S.; Shahinnia, F.; Vendramin, V.; Morgante, M.; Stein, N.; Waugh, R. (2011) Genetic dissection of barley morphology and development., Plant Physiology, 155, 617-627.
- Druka, A.; Franckowiak, J.D.; Lundqvist, U.; Bonar, N.; Alexander, J.; Guzy-Wrobelska, J.; Ramsay, L.; Druka, I.; Grant, I.; Macaulay, M.; Vendramin, V.; Shahinnia, F.; Radovic, S.; Houston, K.; Harrap, D.; Cardle, L.; Marshall, D.F.; Morgante, M.; Stein, N.; Waugh, R. (2010) Exploiting induced variation to dissect quantitative traits in barley., Biochemical Society Transactions, 38, 683-688.
- Manning,P.; Houston, K.; Evans, T. (2009) Shifts in seed size across experimental nitrogen enrichment and plant density gradients., Basic and Applied Ecology, 10, 300-309.
- Houston, K.; Wolff, K. (2009) Eight polymorphic microsatellite markers for Rhinanthus minor., Molecular Ecology Resources, 9, 174-176.
- Wolff, K.; Houston, K.; Dunbar-Co, S. (2009) Cross-species amplification of primers developed from Plantago major and P. intermedia in two Hawaiian Plantago species from the section Plantago., Molecular Ecology Resources, 9, 981-984.
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