November 2012 Toni Kutchan State University; on Botanicals & Eggler of Villanova University for Medicinals from Dr

PSNA News Phytochemical Society of North America Sociedad Fitoquímica de América del Norte Société Phytochimique de L’Amerique du Nord Volume 50, Number 3 December 2012 From the President: November 2012 Toni Kutchan State University; on Botanicals & Eggler of Villanova University for Medicinals from Dr. Ilya Raskin her work on ‘Evaluating the mecha- from Rutgers University and Dr. nism by which phytochemicals acti- Paula Brown from the BC Insti- vate cytoprotective/disease-preven- tute of Technology; on Genomics tive enzymes via Nrf2’. Dr. Eggler is & Bioinformatics from Dr. Anne Assistant Professor of Biochemistry Osbourn of the John Innes Centre within the Department of Chemistry. and Dr. Daniel Kliebenstein of the As she establishes her independent University of California Davis; for scientific research, we are pleased to Phytochemicals In the Interaction be part of her exciting career path. Between Plants and their Environ- ment, Dr. Dorothea Tholl and Dr. Also in London, we sought to revi- Jim Tokuhisa of Virginia Polytech- talize the Young Members Commit- nic Institute spoke; on the topic of tee. During one of two lunch dis- We enjoyed another successful an- Bioproducts From the Canadian cussions aimed at the many young nual meeting in August 2012 (our Forests, Dr. John Thor Arnason from members of our society who attend- 51st annual meeting as a society). University of Ottawa, Dr. Franco ed the meeting, Diana Roopchand of This year’s gathering took place on Berruti of the Western University, Rutgers University, Meg Haggitt of the lovely campus of the Univer- Dr. Emma R. Master, University of the University of Western Ontario sity of Western Ontario in London, Toronto and Dr. Tom Rosser of the and Allison Heskes of the Univer- hosted by Dr. Mark Bernards. The ADM Canadian Forest Centre made sity of Melbourne volunteered to program included oral presentations presentations. The abstract book be involved in helping with young selected from submitted abstracts, as will be made available in electronic member directed events at the PSNA well as young members invited as format online on the PSNA website 2013 meeting. Arthur C. Neish Young Investigator (www.psna-online.org/). contributors, and a poster session. As we go forward together as a so- We enjoyed invited lectures on the We were particularly pleased to have ciety in the coming year, I would diverse topics of Biosynthesis & made the inaugural presentation of like to emphasize the important role Metabolism from Dr. Argelia Lor- the Phytochemistry/PSNA Young of the young members of our small, ence of Arkansas State University Investigator Research Grant (spon- collegial group. It is of central im- sored by Elsevier) to Dr. Aimee and Dr. Kevin Walker of Michigan Continues on Page 3 ...

In this issue:

The 2012 PSNA Conference in London, Ontario

Phytochemical Pioneer Tom Maby

The web PDF version can be downloaded from the website: www.psna-online.org.

PSNA News Page 1 December 2012 PSNA News The PSNA EXECUTIVES December 2012 Phytochemical President Toni Kutchan, Ph.D. Society of Member, Oliver M. Langenberg Distinguished Investigator, North America VP for Research, Danforth Center The Phytochemical Society of North 975 N. Warson Rd. America (PSNA) is a nonprofit St. Louis, MO 63132 scientific organization whose 314-587-1473 membership is open to anyone with CONTENTS [email protected] Presidents Letter … 1 an interest in phytochemistry and the President Elect Fred Stevens, Ph.D. PSNA Buisness News … 3 role of plant substances in related Linus Pauling Institute and the PSNA 2012 Conference … 4 fields. Annual membership dues are U.S. $60 for regular members and Department of Pharmaceutical PSNA 2012 Neish Awards … 7 Sciences, PSNA Phytochemical Pioneer $30 for student members. Annual meetings featuring symposium Oregon State University, Tom Mabry … 8 307 Linus Pauling Science Center, topics of current interest and PSNA 2013 Meeting … 17 Corvallis OR, 97330 USA contributed papers by conference [email protected] WWW.PSNA-ONLINE.ORG participants are held throughout the Past President United States, Canada, and Mexico. Cecilia A. McIntosh, Ph.D. PSNA meetings provide participants Dean, School of Graduate Studies with exposure to the cutting-edge Professor, Biological Sciences research of prominent international East Tennessee State University scientists, but are still small Burgin Dossett Hall Room 309K enough to offer informality and PO Box 70720 intimacy that are conducive to the Johnson City, TN 37614-0720 423-439-4221 (telephone) exchange of ideas. This newsletter is [email protected] circulated to members to keep them Secretary informed of upcoming meetings and Eric Johnson, Ph.D. developments within the society, and Crop Bioprotection Research to provide a forum for the exchange USDA-ARS-NCAUR of information and ideas. If you 1815 N. Univeristy St. would like additional information Peoria, IL 61604 USA about the PSNA, or if you have 309-681-6177 (phone) material that you would like included [email protected] Treasurer in the newsletter, please contact the Daniel Owens, Ph.D. PSNA Secretary or visit our website Natural Products Utilization Research at www.psna-online.org. Annual USDA-ARS dues and changes of address should P.O. Box 8048 ADVISORY COUNCIL be sent to the PSNA Treasurer. Also University, MS 38677 check the PSNA website for regular 662-915-1039 (phone) Daniel Owens (2 year term) updates. [email protected] [email protected] The PSNA is an all volunteer Editor-in-Chief, RAP organization which depends on its Reinhard Jetter Fred Stevens (2 year term) Departments of Botany and Chemistry, [email protected] membership to run the organization. We appreciate the time and effort University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd, Vancouver BC, Mark Bernards (3 year term) these volunteers are putting in V6T 1Z4 Canada [email protected] to keep the organization up and [email protected] running. As a member, please Norman Lewis (3 Year Term) consider volunteering to serve on [email protected] one of these committees. The PSNA can always use more help! PSNA News Page 2 December 2012 President’s Message cussed the following topics. These mailing a physical copy of the news- Continued from page 1 ... were also covered in the Members letter and distribute by email and portance that we continue to provide Meeting on Tuesday. posting on the website. an environment in which young scientists can reside and excel. We are In general, the Hawaii meeting and The website is our primary means asking the Young Members Com- the London meeting have covered of communicating with our mem- mittee to communicate to us the their expenses. It is appreciated that bership and the rest of the scientific types of interactions and events that both of the organizing committees world. As such we need to try to im- they would like to see at the 2013 did an excellent job in raising funds prove its ability to capture the atten- meeting. We look to ways to keep in addition to the conference fees to tion of the major search engines by the society vibrant as we head into cover travel, awards, site fees, and adding a series of key words to the the future, both with respect to de- food for these conferences. top of the index page. Also members fining the types of research that we are encouraged to submit job post- support and to nurturing the young The PSNA got a NSF grant for the ings related to phytochemistry on investigators in the broader areas of Hawaii meeting to help cover travel the site. These will be posted for 6 phytochemistry. As with all fields of expenses for students and post docs. months unless a extension is specifi- science, phytochemistry must also The grant is pretty much a standing cally requested. evolve to meet societal needs and award, there is no deadline and the demands. I would like to include the turn around time is one month from The Executive committee had a long general membership, but in particu- application to decision to award. If discussion on the future of our year- lar the young members, in this time- we do this for next year, we should ly Recent Advances in Phytochemis- ly discussion. get this done about 8 months ahead try reviews. It is clear that the PSNA of time. needs to look at options for gener- In final comments, Dr. Fred Stevens ating an income from a published of Oregon State University in Cor- Committee membership was dis- journal, reviews, or books, as well vallis was voted President-Elect at cussed, and a few were revised, es- as making sure the reviews have a the 51st Meeting. He will assume pecially the awards committee. The significant impact factor in search position as President at the 52nd society relies on volunteer judges databases. The executive committee annual meeting that will take place to help with the conference poster is looking into collaborations with in Corvallis, Oregon from August awards. A new PSNA-Elsevier re- the Phytochemical Society of Eu- 3-7, 2013. Preparations for the 2013 search award was begun this year rope and Elsevier, plus a few other meeting under Fred’s leadership role and will be administered by this options. The goal is to try to inte- are well underway. Check out the committee. The committee will also grate our Annual PSNA meetings progress at www.psna2013.com as oversee the Phytochemical Pioneer with a publication that will generate information becomes available on- Awards and the Life Membership impact as well as income. This will line. Hope to see you in Corvallis Awards. As neither of these were be an ongoing discussion in the year next summer! awarded this year, we will be seek- ahead. ing nominations for next year. The Neish Awards are generally taken The treasurers report and updates PSNA Executive Committee care of by the meeting organizing on dues, membership were present- Meeting & Member committee, though nominations for ed. The big item to note is that the Neish awardees can be sent to the PSNA tax exempt status has lapsed Meeting Notes Awards Committee members. and needs to be reestablished. The Mark Berhow, acting Secretary Ex Comm has authorized the trea- August 11, 2012 The Publications Committee noted surer to hire a CPA to take care of Western Ontario University that physical mail has become more this problem. difficult and expensive. There is The Executive committee usually no “mass mailing” method for for- Future meetings committee will be meets during the annual conference eign mail, each has to be individu- revised on a yearly basis, and meet- to discuss topics relevant to the run- ally stamped. Also a fairly large ings need to be established as far out ning of the society. After getting an percentage is returned due to incor- as possible. the 2013 meeting will be update on this year’s meeting atten- rect addresses or “no longer at this in Corvallis, Oregon at Oregon State dance and finances, the group dis- address.” it has been decided to end University, the 2014, 2015, and

PSNA News Page 3 December 2012 2016 meetings are being discussed. 2012 Annual Meeting of the PSNA Joint meeting with the American So- ciety of Pharmacology and other or- University of Western Ontario ganizations should be carried out on London, Ontario, Canada a regular basis as long as the PSNA has significant presence in the pro- August 11 - 15 gram.

The 2012 meeting of the PSNA was hosted by the Uni- versity of Western Ontario and organized by Dr. Mark Bernards of the University’s Biology Department. Mark and the scientific committee did a great job putting together an interesting and diverse speaker program, while the University’s conference services did a superb job of taking care of the logistics, providing the food, lodging, and meeting facilities.

The campus of the University of Western Ontario is a beautiful location, with a wonderful central core of stone buildings. The talks and poster sessions were held in the The University of Western Ontario There was a great line up of invited speakers assembled for the 51st Annual Meeting of the Phytochemical Society of North America. Five symposia that largely defined the field of Phytochemistry were organized, with each one led by presentations from internation- ally recognized leaders. These included symposia on Biosynthesis & Metabolism, with featured talks on vitamin C by Argelia Lorence, and enzyme specific- ity by Kevin Walker, Genomics & Bioinformatics, with featured talks on quantitative genomics by Daniel Klibenstein and metabolic diversity by Anne Osbourn, Botanicals & Medicinals, with featured talks on phytochemical complexity by Paula Brown and metabolic Niagara Falls syndrome by Ilya Raskin, and Phytochemicals in the interaction between plansts and their environment, with featured talks on below ground terpene metabolism by Dorothea Tholl and steroidal glycoalkaloids by Jim Tokuhisa. A fifth symposium, Bioproducts From Canadian Forests: Production of Valued Attri- butes, featured talks on bioproduct research & development in Canada by Tom Rosser, medicinal plants by John Arnason, bio-oil and bio-char by Franco Berruti, enzyme conversion of forest products into high value polymers by Emma Master and conifer triterpenes by Philipp Zerbe. Each symposium was rounded out by a wide range of presentations chosen from submitted abstracts. And, there was an excellent collection of posters assembled comprehensive poster session during the week.

All Aboard! Photos by Suzanne Kohalmi and Mark Berhow PSNA News Page 4 December 2012 Thanks go out to the Organizing Committee:

Mark A. Bernards, PhD Local Host Department of Biology The University of Western Ontario Is that the United States over there? Charles L. Cantrell Cecilia McIntosh Toni M. Kutchan John T. Arnason Vincenzo De Luca Mark R. Gijzen

Visiting one of the Niagara wineries

Posters & Food! What more can you ask for?

PSNA News Page 5 December 2012 PSNA News Page 6 December 2012 PSNA News Page 7 December 2012 The Awards Banquet President Toni Kutchan and Aimee Eggler

PSNA 2012 Travel Award Winners PSNA 2012 Neish Award Winners

PSNA 2012 Best Poster Award Winners Cheers! from the Bernards Research Group

PSNA News Page 8 December 2012 The Awards Banquet included the ecology of plant toxins focusing in Ottawa, Ontario with Professor recognition of the First Annual two other genera of plants and their J. David Miller. Dr. Sumarah held PSNA-Elsevier Phytochemistry toxins: Delphinium (norditerpene al- a joint post-doctoral position with Award, Dr. Aimee Eggler of Vil- kaloids) and Lupinus (quinolizidine Carleton University and the Merck lanova University, our two Neish and piperidine alkaloids). The influ- Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Re- Award Winners, Dr. Daniel Cook of ence of environment, development, search in Montreal, Quebec. He cur- the USDA, ARS, Logan UT and Dr. and genetics on toxin concentra- rently works as a Research Scien- Mark Sumarah of Agriculture and tions, synthesis, and subsequent risk tist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Agri-Food, Canada. of poisoning are being investigated Canada in London, Ontario at the to mitigate livestock losses. Previ- Southern Crop Protection Food Re- The Best Poster Awards were given ous to his current position, Daniel search Centre. His expertise is in the to: was a post-doctoral associate at the isolation, structural elucidation and Pooja Sharma, Department of Biol- USDA ARS Natural Products Utili- analysis of small organic molecules ogy & the Biotron, The University zation Research Unit in Oxford, MS from complex biological matrices of Western Ontario: “Hairy Roots where he identified and character- using LC-MS and NMR. Dr. Suma- as a Model to Investigate the Role of ized a novel polyketide synthase that rah’s current research is focused on Suberin in the PhytoppthoraSojae- uses a fatty acyl-CoA as a substrate the use of metabolomics to study the soybean Pathosystem, to form an alkylresorcinol. Daniel mechanism of resistance to disease earned a Ph.D. from Michigan State in Canadian crops. He has authored Dimitre Ivanov Department of Biol- University in Plant Biology where or co-authored 15 publications, and ogy and the Biotron, Western Uni- he studied the process of cold accli- owns a patent. versity: Ginsenosides and the Patho- mation in Arabidopsis thaliana in the genicity of Pythium irregulare laboratory of Dr. Mike Thomashow. Daniel earned a B.S. from Utah State Neish Award Winners, 2012 University in Crop Science.

Daniel Cook, PhD Mark Sumarah, PhD USDA-ARS-NPA Poisonous Plant Southern Crop Protection Food Research, Logan UT, USA Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, London, ON, Canada

Daniel Cook is a research scientist at the USDA ARS Poisonous Plant Re- search Laboratory in Logan, UT. His Mark Sumarah was born and raised primary research interest is describ- in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He received ing the relationship between swain- his undergraduate degree at Saint sonine containing plants and fungal Mary’s University in Halifax, and endophytes. Additionally he pursues then completed his MSc and PhD research describing the chemical in Chemistry at Carleton University

PSNA News Page 9 December 2012 PHYTOCHEMICAL PIONEER Tom Mabry From the cotton fields of Texas to the wonderous world of plant chemistry

Born and raised on a farm a few Just after I was notified there would acid. For these studies, I synthesized miles from Commerce, Texas, some be a one-year delay before I could many analogs of ascorbic acid and 60 miles northeast of Dallas, my enter the pilot training program, compared their vitamin C activity childhood was filled with many I visited with one of my college with their structural and enzymatic good times even when working in friends Mark Norwood who was properties. These studies suggested our cotton fields with my three sib- completing his two years in the Air an enzymatic cofactor role for ascor- lings and my parents, farmer/County Force. Mark mentioned that he had bate’s vitamin activity. For charac- Commissioner Thomas Lee Mabry been accepted for graduate study in terization of these carbohydrate-type and housewife/ grade school teacher physics at Rice University in Hous- analogs of ascorbic acid, I often con- Grace Creamer Mabry. It was on the ton. My disappointment with the verted them to derivatives that were farm where I developed a curiosity delay for pilot training turned to joy soluble in organic solvents. Thus, about the natural world, which led when I took steps necessary to leave derivatization (under very mild con- me to study biology and chemistry the Air Force and study chemistry at ditions) of various classes of water- in high school. Luckily, Commerce Rice in a Ph.D. program. Although soluble natural products for NMR had a small college, East Texas in college I had been an honor stu- and GC analyses became a power- State (now Texas A&M University- dent in chemistry, I had no knowl- ful analytical procedure I utilized Commerce), which my mother, my edge of reaction mechanisms and for many of my later phytochemical siblings and I all attended at very struggled during my first semester in investigations: for example, stud- little cost. One of my proudest mo- graduate school. Nevertheless, with ies of the beet pigment betanidin ments occurred in June, 1952 when the guidance of my outstanding su- (methylation using diazomethane), I walked across the graduation stage pervisor Prof. Martin Ettlinger, flavonoid glycosides (forming tri- to receive B.S. and M.S. degrees in methylsilyl ethers using hexameth- Chemistry and a 2nd Lt. commission I completed a dissertation on the yldisilazane/ trimethylchlorosilane), in the Air Force via an ROTC pro- mode of vitamin action of ascorbic and non-protein amino acids (to gram.

Following college and six months before reporting for active duty in the Air Force, I worked as a chemist for Chance Vought Aircraft, located near Dallas. My induction into the Air Force began in San Antonio at Lackland Air Force Base, but within two months I was assigned as a Re- search Scientist to Wright- Patterson Air Development Center, Dayton, Ohio. During my two years in the Air Force, I evaluated new equipment for aerial photography, married my high school sweetheart Myra Butler, and enjoyed private flying lessons; the latter led me to sign up for pilot training for what I envisioned would Fig. 1 Tom’s genius mentor for his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry was Rice University Professor Martin Ettlinger, shown here with his lovely Danish be a long, exciting military career. wife Lise Bolt JI)rgensen, Professor of Botany, University of Copenhagen, where Martin spent his last years before passing away in 2007. Martin was buried in Austin next to his parents. PSNA News Page 10 December 2012 N-ethoxycarbonyl ethyl esters using ethylchloroformate/ ethanol). My friend Gene Mitch finished his Ph.D. in chemistry at Rice in 1959 and then accepted a post-doctoral position with Professor Andre Dreiding in the Organic Chemistry Institute, The University of Zürich, Switzerland. Gene encouraged me to also join Dreiding’s group. With my Ph.D. degree in Organic Chemistry freshly in hand, it was in great an- ticipation in June 1960 when Myra and I boarded the Queen Mary for our voyage from New York to Eng- land, and then by train from London to Paris to pick up a new Renault. Enroute to Zürich from Paris we Fig. 3 Tom with Professor Andre Dreiding, his post-doctorate mentor at the University of Zurich, Switzerland in 1960-61. Dreiding was not only a detoured to Strasbourg, France and visiting Professor at UT - Austin in the Spring of 1966, but was also a major there crossed the Rhein River into lecturer for the first PSNA meeting held April 1966 at UT Austin; the meet- Germany in order to visit the parents ing was organized by Tom. of Rice post-doctorate Dr. Heinz I became a “natural products chem- the big cumbersome HR-60, as well Gänshirt in the small Black For- ist.” Dreiding, a brilliant, modern or- as a pretty good interpreter of spec- est city of Lahr. When we crossed ganic chemist, suggested that I tack- tra. When I initiated my lab work the Rhein, we were less than 20 le his only natural products problem, in Zürich, there was no NMR spec- miles from the German village of namely, the elusive pigments in the trometer but within a few months Lichtenau, the home of my second red beet, compounds whose struc- Varian opened a European office in wife Helga and her mother Elisa- tures had puzzled his group and oth- Zürich with an HR-60. Soon there- beth (Omi) Humm, both of whom I ers for many, many years. In my last after, I inquired of the American would meet only a few years later. years at Rice I had learned a new (at manager Les Procter if I could use that time) technique, NMR spectros- their HR-60 in the evenings and on Thus, in the summer of 1960, Myra copy, and had become an operator weekends, and to my delight he re- and I began our year and a half so- of a Varian Associates instrument, plied “okay” and handed me keys journ in Zürich, and it was here where to the offices. Within a few months I had stacks of NMR spectra of my newly prepared methylated and acetylated derivatives of neobetani- din, compounds that were not only soluble in organic solvents but that also contained all the carbon atoms of the water- soluble betanidin, the aglycone of the main red beet pigment betanin. When my data were combined with those of Dr. Hugo Wyler, Dreiding’s outstanding assistant who had elucidated key frag- ments of the pigment, the structures of the beet pigments were readily resolved. During the next few years, we determined the biosynthesis and remarkable distribution of these un- Fig. 2 Tom and Helga, a German- trained lab assistant, a few years after their marriage April 3, 1971. usual pigments, which Dreiding and I named “betalains” in 1966. PSNA News Page 11 December 2012 Chairmanship of the Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Mis- sissippi. Of course, when Klaus and his wife Helga first arrived from Germany in 1965, little did I expect Helga to become my second wife. Helga had been trained as a Chemi- cal Technician at the Science Acad- emy in Isny (in southeastern Germa- ny) and then worked as a chemistry laboratory assistant at the University of Tübingen, as well as in German industry. With such a rigorous laboratory background, including many invaluable analytical skills, Helga easily became one of my best lab Fig. 4 Dr. Walter Renold shown here with his lovely wife Verena. Walter assistants and coedited with me and was a lab assistant in Zurich for Dreiding in 1960, when Tom recognized Jeffrey Harborne the 1975 volume Walter’s talents and sponsored him to attend a small college in Texas for a “The Flavonoids.” Since our mar- B.S. degree; then he supervised him for a Ph.D. degree in plant chemistry riage in 1971, Helga has been a ter- at UT -Austin in 1970. Walter later became a top scientist and member of rific partner not only for our home the Board of Directors for Firmenich et Cie, a firm in Geneva, Switzerland specializing in perfumes and fragrances. life but also in most of my scientific adventures in almost all countries In 1962, I joined the Department of A quote from a footnote in my 2001 in the expanded European Union, Botany at The University of Texas at career review paper in the Journal of from the Canary Islands to War- Austin to develop a program in phy- Natural Products sums up the sen- saw, from London to Athens. In tochemistry determining structures, timents I quickly felt upon starting addition, we spent almost a year in distribution, and biological roles for my new position in Austin. Once at Freiberg, Germany during my ten- flavonoids, terpenoids, and alkaloids UTAustin, I soon recognized that I ure as a Guggenheim Fellow in the as well as other smaller classes of was indeed fortunate to be one of the labs of Prof. Wolfgang Barz; here I plant secondary compounds, all for first chemists in a group of biologists learned techniques for manipulating biochemical systematics studies be- who were excited to study, under- and analyzing plant cell cultures. We ing pursued by plant physiologist stand and enjoy the world of plants also had a half-dozen enormously Ralph Alston and plant systematist around us and at the same time were stimulating stays in Heidelberg in Billie Turner. The first key analysis deeply concerned with preserving the period 1983-2001 when Prof. instrument I purchased was an NMR and protecting this green earth for Dietmar Behnke hosted me during instrument; however, initially I used future generations. Within six years my Alexander von Humboldt Se- the spectrometer in the Chemistry I was a full professor envying no nior Scientist visits. Moreover, the Department at Rice University, and one as I cherished my continually village home of Helga’s mother has recorded there many of the spectra challenging extraordinary position, served every summer since 1971 as of trimethylsilyl ethers of flavonoids which was supported by several our quiet Rhein valley retreat. Since included in my 1970 volume “The large fully equipped phytochemistry his birth in 1974, our son Patrick Systematic Identification of Flavo- laboratories (GC, UV, NMR, MS, has also spent all his vacations in noids” (with post-doctorates Ken and GC-MS instruments), all staffed Germany. Still today, a special sum- Markham and Michael Thomas). with excellent botany Ph.D. students mer pleasure for me is to bicycle By 1968 I was a full Professor and and remarkable international post- from Lichtenau to the Rhein River in the 1980s served for several years doctorates who were organic chem- where I take a ferry across to France as Chairman of Botany, and since ists and biochemists. to experience another culture, really 1999, following reorganization of another world, in the Alsatian coun- Biology at UT-Austin, I have been a I recognize Dr. Klaus Fischer as tryside. However, our greatest joy is member of the Section of Molecular one the excellent post-doctorates in to have Helga’s mother with us in Cell and Developmental Biology in my lab in the 1960s; Klaus recently Austin every year from December to the School of Biological Sciences. retired to the Dallas area from the April.

PSNA News Page 12 December 2012 In my 2001 review paper, I com- mented on only four of dozens of “Biochemical and Biosystematic “Betalamic Acid and Other Products research projects: 1) establishing Studies of Baptisia Alkaloids” of the Biotransformations of L-Dopa the structures, biosynthesis, and (Morris Cranmer, 1965) in Betalain Biogenesis” (Linda Kim- distribution of the unique betalain ler , 1972) pigments; 2) the development of a “The Ultraviolet Spectral Analy- chemicalstructural basis for a bio- sis of Coumarins” (Genie Bracken- “Biochemical Systematic Investiga- chemical systematic program; 3) ridge , tions of Western Hemisphere Spe- unraveling the mechanism of action 1968) cies of the Genus Vernonia (Com- of the antiviral proteins in Phytolac- positae) Emphasizing Flavonoid ca; and 4) showing how a non-pro- “Origin of the Texas Gulf Coast Is- Chemistry” (Zeinab Abdel-Baset , tein amino acid from Guam cycad land Populations of Ambrosia psi- 1973) seeds may be involved in causing lostachya DC.: a Biochemical and the Guam neurodisease ALS-PDC Numerical Systematic Investiga- “The Chemistry and Distribution of (amyotropic lateral sclerosis-Parkin- tion” (Janet Potter, 1970) New Germacranolide-type Sesqui- son’s dementia complex), findings terpene Lactones in the North Amer- which support the hypothesis that “The Chemistry and Infraspecific ican Taxa of the Genus Vernonia substances in our diets and in the air Variation of Sesquiterpene Lac- (Compositae)” (William Padolina , we breathe may cause major neu- tones in Ambrosia confertiflora DC. 1973) rodiseases including Parkinson’s, (Compositae): Chemosystematic Alzheimer’s, and ALS. To illustrate Study at the Populational Level” “The Distribution of Azoxyglyco- additional diversity of our program, (Walter Renold , 1970) sides, Amino Acids and Biflavo- which has resulted in >600 publica- noids in the Order Cycadales: Their tions, titles of 27 of more than 60 “Nucleic Acid Studies among Cen- Taxonomic, Phylogenetic, and Toxi- dissertations and theses supervised trospermae Species” (Christina cological Significance” (Saifu Dos- from 1965 to 2002 are presented: Chang , 1971) saji , 1974)

Fig. 5 Dr. Barbara Timmermann, one of Tom’s Fig. 6 Dr. Jonathan Gershenzon, also one of Tom’s outstanding Ph.D. students, finished her disserta- excellent Ph.D. students, finished his dissertation on tion on flavonoid chemistry in 1980. Today she is a terpenoid chemistry in 1984. Today he is one of the Distinguished Professor and Chair, Dept. of Medicinal Directors of the Max Plank Institute for Chemical Ecol- Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas. ogy in Jena, Germany.

PSNA News Page 13 December 2012 “The Chemistry and Distribution of “Pokeweed Antiviral Protein Inac- plus graduate students and well over Sesquiterpene Lactones and Flavo- tivitates Pokeweed Ribosomes; Im- a hundred post-doctorates, I close noids in Parthenium (Compositae): plications for the Antiviral Mecha- with one more quote from a footnote Systematic and Ecological Im Impli- nism” (Maureen Bonness ,, 1992) in my 2001 Journal of Natural Prod- cations” (Eloy Rodriguez , 1975) ucts review paper that testifies to the “Isolation and Biological Proper- enormous joy I have experienced in “Sulfated and Nonsulfated Flavo- ties of Citrus Limonoids” (George my career through them. I proudly noids from Flaveria, Sartwellia, and Mitchell-Tapping, 1992) report that my role in complex bio- Haploesthes” (Munira Al- Khubaizi logical chemistry investigations and , 1977) “Protoplasts from Phytolacca do- my stimulating interactions with decandra ” (Patricia Koch , 1993) a large number of fascinating col- “Phytochemical Investigations of leagues and special friends contin- the Genus Brickellia (Compositae) “Chemical and Enzymological In- ues still today to be a great, exhila- Emphasizing Flavonoids” (Barbara vestigations of the Phenylpropanoid rating forty-year ride! Timmermann , 1977) Pathway in Elicited Cultures of Cephalocereus senilus (“old man” Finally, although I still keep my lab “Qualitative and Quantitative Natu- cactus)” David Liu , 1994) doors open for a few dedicated and ral Products Chemistry of a Desert highly talented co-workers, I do Plant Community, Andalgala Valley, “A Study of Known Excitotoxic begin to feel increasing excitement Argentina: A Chemical-Ecological Compounds and Isolated Nonpro- as I expand my personal goals and Study” (Daniel DiFeo , 1977) tein Amino Acids from Cycads” cultivate my dreams for yet anoth- (Delia Brownson,1996) er phase of what has already been “Phytochemical Investigations of over forty “Golden Years.” I like the Genus Larrea (Zygophyllaceae) “Pigment Dichotomy and Molecular the prospect of Helga and spending Emphasizing Volatile Constituents Evolution in the Caryophyllales” ( long-postponed time with numerous and Sapogenins” (Charles Bohnst- John Clement, 1997) kindred spirits and with many fam- edt , ily members including Myra and 1977) “The Role of Root Exudates in Ar- Klaus, our first spouses, with whom buscular Mycorrhizal Initiation” ( we share many special bonds. We “Biochemical Investigations of Ma- Carol Mandelbaum, 1997) especially relish the idea of finally rine Algae of the Texas Gulf Coast impersonating grandparents for the Emphasizing Amino Acids” (Paula “Estrogenic Activity of Flavonoids adorable twins William Sumner Neuman, 1978) from Cyperus alopecuroides Rottb. Cooley (left) and Thomas Mabry (Cyperaceae)” ( Amy Bystrom, Cooley (born 05- 27-00) of Michele “The Terpenoid Chemistry of He- 2002) (daughter, far left) and Webb, and lianthus series corona-solis and its the charming Cassandra Caroline Ecological and Systematic Applica- “Chitin-Induced Biosynthesis of Mabry (born 03- 02-03) of Patrick tions” (Jonathan Gershenzon , 1984) Phytoalexin 4β-Deoxyaurone in (son) and Birgit. Lastly, I warmly Cell Suspension Cultures of “Old acknowledge the generous support “ A Systematic Study of the Genus Man” Cactus, Cephalocereus seni- of the NSF, NIH, and several private Krigia (Asteraceae Lactuceae), Em- lis” ( Isagani Padolina, 2002) foundations including especially the phasizing Chloroplast DNA and Nu- Robert A. Welch Foundation, which clear Ribosomal DNA Variations” I acknowledge two very bright stu- has funded our program for over (Ki-Joong Kim , 1989) dents, Gani Padolina (listed just 40 years. Also, I express my heart- above) and his father William Pa- felt thanks to D.J. Sibley Jr., Theo “Phytoalexin Aurone Induction in dolina (eighth from the top of the Weisser, Jimmy Gill, and Feng Gao. Cephalocereus senilis (old-man list), as they are my only parent- cactus) Liquid Suspension Culture” child graduate student combina- (Paul Paré , 1991) tion. While I cannot individually express my heartfelt gratitude to all my hardworking, technically excellent, and very productive colleagues and co-workers, including the sixty-

PSNA News Page 14 December 2012 The Plant Sciences and Life Activities of Tom J. Mabry from 2003-2012

Tom J. Mabry Professor Emeritus Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology The University of Texas at Austin

At the suggestion of Eric Johnson, PSNA Secretary, I write this short paper to update my career since 2003, when my previous article on lithe wondrous world of plant chemistry” appeared in the December Fig 1. Mabry’s last PhD student Lalita Calabria (Pinchot) with her husband, 2003 PSNA News. Gifford (Marco) Pinchot IV, a fishing industry businessman, and their two First I mention something that has children, baby Isla Reed and Rowan Marie. been significant in shaping my view of life. When I was about 12 years old my parents were given a set of encyclopedia volumes, one of which contained a chapter that excited me, and ultimately changed my inter- pretation of life, namely {(The Ori- gin of Species” by Charles Darwin. Thus, during my 40 plus years as a Professor for Biological Chemistry at The University of Texas at Austin, I taught the chemical reactions that might have led to life; in addition, I always had long discussions on how evolution has given us the diversity of life on this earth as we know it today. The next comments concern my Fig 2. Tom in his new home office with wife Helga; the top three shelves plant chemistry program in the are filled with his students dissertations and theses; the two smaller mid- 2003-2012 period. My research dle shelves house Tom’s 15 books, including If The Flavonoids”, coedited grants continued to be well funded by Tom, Jeffrey Harborne and Helga. for several postdoctorates from the more. My last Ph.D. student, Lalita first occurred in the spring of 2004 Middle East, Asian and elsewhere, Calabria (Fig 1) finished her stud- during one of my regular long walks. as well as for many undergraduate ies in the fall of 2008 and was rec- I suddenly had enormous back pain; students and the last of my graduate ognized by The University of Texas several local back surgeons identi- students. These coworkers published for her {(Outstanding Dissertation”: fied the problem as severe deterio- over 50 papers describing many new {(The Isolation and Characterization ration of my spine (scoliosis) and natural products, some with such of Triterpene Saponins from Silphi- suggested inserting a long rod next properties as being anti-tumor and um and the Chemosystematic and to the spine. My German wife Helga anti-viral; included were lipids, sa- Biological Significance of Saponins and I had already booked our an- ponins, flavonoids, terpenes, -hor in the Asteraceae”. nual trip to visit her mom, who lives mones, phenyflavanes, hydroxylac- Next I describe two very different near Baden-Baden. Once in Ger- tones, phenolics, benzoquinones and unexpected non-science events. The many one of my friends suggested I PSNA News Page 15 December 2012 see Dr. Franz Copf, a top European meals, transportation and clothing; botany books, and at least one copy back surgeon in Stuttgart and have moreover, one couple leaving for a of each of the 750 papers published him evaluate my problems. This ul- cruise vacation even handed us the in my career. timately led to my retiring from UT keys to their home, where we stayed My last comments are to express my in 2006 so I could plan for three sur- for about 10 days. We rebuilt on the thanks to our only daughter Michele, geries requiring about 3 months in same foundation with several design her husband Webb and their twin Copf’s clinic in 2008; since these changes, including a big new of- boys, William and Thomas (Fig. 3) surgeries I have not yet had back or fice for me (Fig 2). I am just now, for moving from Dallas to Austin bending problems! Spring 2012, closing my University at Helga’s suggestion. Michele, a The other unexpected event occurred office and moving important materi- high school science teacher in Dal- January 17/18, 2009; our home al into my home office where I just las, had no difficulty finding a simi- burned down as the result of an at- placed 70 plus dissertations and the- lar position in the Austin area and tic electrical short. Our neighbors ses of students I supervised, as well Webb an architect, was even luckier provided remarkable help, including as copies of my 15 plant chemistry/ as his Dallas architectural firm had an office in Austin that was in need of an architect. Their move to the Austin area was just a few months before our January 2009 house fire, and they have pitched in to help us as needed. Their living close to us makes for many wonderful regular family gatherings; this is especially important as our only son Patrick is the General Counsel for an invest- ment firm in Luxembourg and his 9 year old daughter Cassie (Fig.4) lives in Munich with her mom, Pat- rick’s ex-wife. Tom and Helga’s trip to Germany this year is booked for May 9-August 2, 2012 I now end my comments on my very Fig 3. Daughter Michele Cooley with husband Webb and their twin boys Wil- satisfying career with best wishes to liam and Thomas (they will be 12 years old April 27, 2012). all my wonderful and productive former students, colleagues and co- workers! Auf Wiedersehen! (Tom celebrated his 80th Birthday in Germany, June 6, 2012.)

Fig 4. Our son Patrick, photographed with his daughter Cassie celebrating her 9th Birthday on March 2, 2012 in Munich.

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