Participating Faculty
Rodney Croteau

Regents Professor
Institute of Biological Chemistry
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-6340

Ph.D., 1970
University of Massachusetts

Phone: 509-335-1790
Fax: 509-335-7643
Email: croteau@wsu.edu

 

Research Interests:
Our research deals broadly with the origin and function of terpenoids in plants.

Research Summary:
Specific areas of investigation include the structure and mechanism of enzymes of terpenoid biosynthesis and biochemical and molecular approaches to industrial-scale production of terpenoid compounds of pharmaceutical significance, including taxol and menthol.

Representative Publications:
Hoelscher DJ, Williams DC, Wildung MR, Croteau R. (2003) A cDNA clone for 3-carene synthase from Salvia stenophylla. Phytochemistry. 62(7):1081-6.

Phillips MA, Wildung MR, Williams DC, Hyatt DC, Croteau R. (2003) cDNA isolation, functional expression, and characterization of (+)-alpha-pinene synthase and (-)-alpha-pinene synthase from loblolly pine (Pinus taeda): stereocontrol in pinene biosynthesis. Arch Biochem Biophys; 411(2):267-76.

Croteau RB, Davis EM, Ringer KL, Wildung MR (2005) (-)-Menthol biosynthesis and molecular genetics. Naturwissenschaften 92:562-577.

Hyatt DC, Croteau R. (2005) Mutational analysis of a monoterpene synthase reaction: Altered catalysis through directed mutagenesis of (-)-pinene synthase from Abies grandis. Arch Biochem Biophys. 439(2):222-33.

Wildung MR, Croteau RB. (2005) Genetic engineering of peppermint for improved essential oil composition and yield. Transgenic Res. 14(4):365-72.

Long RM, Croteau R. (2005) Preliminary assessment of the C13-side chain 2'-hydroxylase involved in taxol biosynthesis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 338(1):410-7.