B. Gillian Turgeon Associate Professor Cornell University Department of Plant Pathology Ithaca, NY 14853 (607) 254-7458 (voice) (607) 255-4471 (Fax) bgt1@cornell.edu Education Ph. D. University of Dayton & C.F. Kettering Research Institute Yellow Springs, OH., 1982 M.S. Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, 1971 A.B. / B.S. Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada , 1969

Professional Experience

• 1996- Associate Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University
• 1995- Director, Center for Fungal Biology, Cornell University
• 1987-1996 Senior Research Associate, Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University
• 1984-1987 Research Associate, Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University
• 1982-1984 Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University
• 1980-1982 Ph.D. Research Associate, C.F. Kettering Research Laboratory, Yellow Springs, OH
• 1973-1976 Research Assistant, Laboratory of Dr. Norton Zinder, Rockefeller University, NY
• 1972-1973 Research Assistant, Cell Biology Laboratory Co-ordinator, Carleton University
• 1971-1972 Research Assistant, Department of Forestry, Environment Canada

Division of Effort

Research - 70%, Teaching - 30%

Research Interests

I have two major research interests in the field of fungal biology- pathogenicity and mating (reproduction). Both are complex developmental processes requiring co-ordinated regulation of large numbers of genes and both involve communication via signal transduction pathways. For pathogenicity, the communication is between different organisms- the fungus and its host. For mating, communication is between individuals of the same organism. The long range goals of my research program are to understand how fungi sense signals and respond to them, and to identify sets of genes (and the functions of their products) that are required for reproduction (both sexual and asexual) and pathogenicity. I have pursued these goals with: (1) a genetically well developed fungus whose features are appropriate for the questions being asked, and (2) the most advanced genetic technology available to dissect developmental pathways. The model fungus belongs to the genus Cochliobolus; the technologies center on functional genomics. The aim is to acquire as much sequence information as possible and to perform functional tests (such as gene deletion) coupled to appropriate assays for phenotype to prove or disprove the role of a particular gene product in the developmental process of interest.

Teaching

• PLPA738. Genetics and development of filamentous fungi. , 2 credits, Fall, alternate years

• American Phytopathological Society
• International Society for Plant-Microbe Interactions
• Mycological Society of America
• Genetics Society of America

Honors & Awards

• 1967-1968 Dr. Harry Katznelson Memorial Scholarship, Carleton University 1967-1968 Francis C. C. Lynch Scholarship, Carleton University 1969-1971 National Research Council of Canada Post-graduate Scholarships

Professional Activities

• 1998 Grant Proposal Review Panel, NSF Microbial Genetics
• 1998 Co-Chair, Gordon Research Conference on Cellular and Molecular Mycology
• 1997- Associate Editor, Fungal Genetics and Biology
• 1996-98 Associate Editor, Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 1994- Editorial Board, Current Genetics 1989 Grant Proposal Review Panel, Department of Energy
• Ad hoc reviewer for USDA/NRI, NSF grant programs
• Ad hoc reviewer for the journals Molecular and General Genetics, Genetics,
• The Plant Cell, Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, Current Genetics,
• Fungal Genetics and Biology, PNAS

Department Responsibilities

• Department of Plant Pathology, Curriculum Committee
• Department of Plant Pathology, Chair, Mycology Curriculum Committee
• Department of Plant Pathology, Special Lecture Committee

University Responsibilities

• Director, Cornell Center for Fungal Biology
• Convenor, Fungal Biology Program Elements

Publications (10 years)

Submitted

Yun, S.H., M.L. Berbee, O.C. Yoder and B.G. Turgeon. The fungal self-fertile reproductive life style evolves from self-sterile ancestors. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.

 

In press

Horwitz, B.A., A. Sharon, S.W. Lu, V. Ritter, T.M. Sandrock, O.C. Yoder and B.G. Turgeon. 1998. A G protein alpha subunit from Cochliobolus heterostrophus involved in mating and appressorium formation. Fungal Genet. Biol.

 

Kodama, M., M. Rose, O.C. Yoder and B.G. Turgeon. 1998. The translocation-associated Tox1 locus of Cochliobolus heterostrophus is two genetic elements on two different chromosomes. Genetics.

 

Published

 

Christiansen, S.K., S. Wirsel, O.C. Yoder and B.G. Turgeon. 1998. The two Cochliobolus mating type genes are conserved among species but one of them is missing in C. victoriae. Mycol. Res. 102:919-929.

 

Wirsel, S., B.A. Horwitz, K. Yamaguchi, O.C. Yoder and B.G. Turgeon. 1998. Single mating type-specific genes and their 3' UTRs control mating and fertility in Cochliobolus heterostrophus. Mol. Gen. Genet. 259:272-281.

 

Inoue, S., B.G. Turgeon, O.C. Yoder and J.R. Aist. 1998. Role of fungal dynein in hyphal growth, microtubule organization, spindle pole body motility and nuclear migration. J. Cell Sci. 111:1555-1566.

 

Inoue, S., O.C. Yoder, B.G. Turgeon and J.R. Aist. 1998. A cytoplasmic dynein required for mitotic aster formation in vivo. J. Cell Sci. 111:2607-2614.

 

Wu, Q., T.M. Sandrock, B.G. Turgeon, O.C. Yoder, S.G. Wirsel and J.R. Aist. 1998. A fungal kinesin required for organelle motility, hyphal growth and morphogenesis. Mol. Biol. Cell 9: 89-101.

 

Yun, S.H., B.G. Turgeon and O.C. Yoder. 1998. REMI-induced mutants of Mycosphaerella zeae-maydis lacking the polyketide PM-toxin are deficient in pathogenesis to corn. Physiol. Mol. Plant Pathol. 52:53-66.

 

Arie, T., S.K. Christiansen, O.C. Yoder and B.G. Turgeon. 1997. Efficient cloning of ascomycete mating type genes by PCR amplification of the conserved MAT HMG box. Fungal Genet. Biol. 21:118-130.

 

Leubner-Metzger, G., B.A. Horwitz, O.C. Yoder and B.G. Turgeon. 1997. Transcripts at the mating type locus of Cochliobolus heterostrophus. Mol. Gen. Genet. 256:661-673.

 

Sharon, A., K. Yamaguchi, S.K. Christiansen, B.A. Horwitz, O.C. Yoder and B.G. Turgeon. 1996. An asexual fungus has the potential for sexual development. Mol. Gen. Genet. 251:60-68.

 

Wirsel, S., B.G. Turgeon and O.C. Yoder. 1996. Deletion of the Cochliobolus heterostrophus mating type (MAT) locus promotes function of MAT transgenes. Curr. Genet. 29:241-249.

 

Yang, G., M.S. Rose, B.G. Turgeon and O.C. Yoder. 1996. A polyketide synthase is required for fungal virulence and production of the polyketide T-toxin. The Plant Cell 8:2139-2150.

 

Yoder, O.C. and B.G. Turgeon. 1996. Molecular genetic evaluation of fungal molecules for roles in pathogenesis to plants. J. Genet. 75:425-440.

 

Turgeon, B.G., M. Kodama, G. Yang, M.S. Rose, S.W. Lu and O.C. Yoder. 1995. Function and chromosomal location of the Cochliobolus heterostrophus Tox1 locus. Can. J. Bot. 73:S1071-S1076.

 

Turgeon, B.G., A. Sharon, S. Wirsel, S.K. Christiansen, K. Yamaguchi and O.C. Yoder. 1995. Structure and function of mating type genes in Cochliobolus spp. and asexual fungi. Can. J. Bot. 73:S788-S783.

 

GuillÈn, A., B.G. Turgeon, P.R. Thorson, C.R. Bronson and O.C. Yoder. 1994. Linkage among melanin biosynthetic mutations in Cochliobolus heterostrophus. Fungal Genet. Newsl. 41:41-42.

 

Lu, S.W., L. Lyngholm, G. Yang, C.R. Bronson, O.C. Yoder and B.G. Turgeon. 1994. Tagged mutations at the Tox1 locus of Cochliobolus heterostrophus using Restriction Enzyme Mediated Integration. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 91:12649-12653.

 

Yang, G., B.G. Turgeon and O.C. Yoder. 1994. Toxin-deficient mutants from a toxin-sensitive transformant of Cochliobolus heterostrophus. Genetics 137:751-757.

 

Mullin, P.G., B.G. Turgeon and O.C. Yoder. 1993. Complementation of Cochliobolus heterostrophus trp- mutants produced by gene replacement. Fungal Genet. Newsl. 40:51-53

 

Turgeon, B.G., H. Bohlmann, L.M. Ciuffetti, S.K. Christiansen, G. Yang, W. Schfer and O.C. Yoder. 1993. Cloning and analysis of the mating type genes from Cochliobolus heterostrophus. Mol. Gen. Genet. 238:270-284.

 

Ciuffetti, L.M., O.C. Yoder and B.G. Turgeon. 1992. A microbiological assay for host-specific fungal polyketide toxins. Fungal Genet. Newsl. 39:18-19.

 

Straubinger, B., E. Straubinger, S. Wirsel, B.G. Turgeon and O.C. Yoder. 1992. Versatile transformation vectors carrying the bar gene of Streptomyces hygroscopicus. Fungal Genet. Newsl. 39:82-83.

 

Garber, R.C., B.G. Turgeon, E.U. Selker and O.C. Yoder. 1988. Organization of ribosomal RNA genes in the fungus Cochliobolus heterostrophus. Curr. Genet. 14: 573-582.

 

Weltring, K., B.G. Turgeon, O.C. Yoder and H. D. VanEtten. 1988. Isolation of a phytoalexin-detoxification gene from the plant pathogenic fungus Nectria haematacocca by expression in Aspergillus nidulans. Gene: 68:335-344.