Michael Scott Greer, MSc, PhD Michael.greer@unt.edu

CURRICULUM VITAE

 

 

 

Education/Research Experience

 

Post-Doctoral Fellow

University of North Texas               03.2016- present

Supervised by Dr. Kent Chapman, Regents Professor, Director of the Center for Plant Lipid Research & Coordinator of the Plant Signaling Cluster

Primary Project Title – "Elucidating the Cellular Machinery for Lipid Storage in Plants."

For this project, I am advancing our understanding of how plants store oils by identifying and characterizing cellular machinery which governs this process.

 

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Alberta Innovates Phytola Center 05.2015-03.2016

Supervised by Dr. Randall J. Weselake, Professor and Canada Research Chair, University of Alberta

Primary Project Title - "Application of Genomics for Increasing Seed Oil Content in Soybean."

For this project, I am accelerating a soybean TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genomes) breeding program by employing recombinant expression technologies and high throughput screening methods to pre-emptively validate effects of target gene mutations. Candidate mutations capable of increasing targeted phenotypes were identified through statistical analysis of genetic sequences and by high-throughput activity assays of mutant libraries.

 

PhD in Plant Science 

University of Alberta                         09.2009 - 05.2015

Supervised by Dr. Randall J. Weselake, Professor and Canada Research Chair, University of Alberta

Thesis Title - "Type-1 Brassica napus Diacylglycerol Acyltransferases: Enzyme Characterization and Molecular Tools for Increasing Storage Lipid Production in Yeast."

In this project, methods of producing genetically improved varieties of canola were explored through genetic and biochemical analyses of four homologs of a gene (DGAT1) involved in oil accumulation.  Methods for genetically engineering increased activity of DGAT1 were identified and exploited.  These findings led to the development of a novel GC/MS based activity assay method, and yeast strains with substantially increased triacylglycerols production.

 

MSc in Biology

University of Lethbridge                  09.2005- 04.2008

Co-Supervised by Dr. Igor Kovalchuk, Professor and Board of Governors Research Chair, University of Lethbridge & Dr. François Eudes, Cereal Biotechnologist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Thesis Title -"Effects of Ammonium Nitrate upon Direct Somatic Embryogenesis and Biolistic Transformation of Wheat."

In this project, parameters affecting biolistic transformation of wheat and triticale were optimized to improve explant regeneration and DNA integration.

 

Research Associate                     01.2009-05.2009

Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research Centre

Supervised by Dr. Francois Eudes, Cereal Biotechnologist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Responsible for supporting wheat development team by ensuring a continuous supply of cereal plants, constructing and delivering DNA constructs into cultured plants cells, and maintaining pipeline of propagating and screening transgenic plants.

 

Research Assistant                       04.2002-08.2002

University of Lethbridge

Supervised by Dr. Igor Kovalchuk, Professor and Board of Governors Research Chair

Carried out plant phenotyping and basic molecular biology tasks to assist research team investigating the effects of biotic and abiotic stress upon plant DNA repair machinery.

 

Teaching Experience

Lab Instruction

  • Plant Science 221 (Plant Sci. 221) University of Alberta, AB, CA
  • Introduction to Genetics (Biol. 2000) University of Lethbridge, AB, CAN

 

Student/Practicum Supervision

  • Student Research Intern (Jennifer Monico, BSc) University of North Texas (Denton, Tx, USA)
  • Co-op student (Biotechnology - Cellular/Molecular Technician) Lethbridge College (Lethbridge, AB, Can) in partnership with Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada (Lethbridge Research Centre)

 

Exam Preparation

  • Alberta Institute of Agrologist (AIA) Professional Designation Exam on Crop Development

 

Guest Lectures

  • 'Promoting Oil Accumulation via Manipulation of Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase'.
  • Seminars, (AFNS 601), University of Alberta, AB, CAN
  • ‘Bioproducts from Plant Carbohydrates – Fuel Ethanol’
  • Plants for Bioproducts (Plant Sci. 345), University of Alberta, AB, CAN
  • ‘Bioproducts from Proteins’ Plants for Bioproducts (Plant Sci. 345), University of Alberta, AB, CAN
  • ‘The Food versus Fuel Debate’ Plants for Bioproducts (Plant Sci. 345), University of Alberta, AB, CAN
  • ‘Giving a Seminar’ Plants for Bioproducts (Plant Sci. 345), University of Alberta, AB, CAN

 

 

Peer-Reviewed Publications

 

  1. Boyko, A., Greer, M., Kovalchuk, I. (2006) Acute exposure to UVB has more pronounced effect on plant genome stability than chronic exposure. Mutation Research, 602: 100-109
  2. Greer, M. S. Kovalchuk, I. Eudes F. (2009) Ammonium nitrate improves direct somatic embryogenesis and biolistic transformation of Triticum aestivum New Biotechnology 26 (1-2): 44-52
  3. Chen, G., Snyder, C.L., Greer, M.S., Weselake, R.J. (2010) Biology and Biochemistry of Plant Phospholipases. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences 30(3): 239-258; invited
  4. Chen, G., Greer, M.S., Lager, I., Yilmaz, J. L., Mietkiewska, E., Carlsson, A. S., Stymne, S., Weselake, R. J. (2012) Identification and characterization of an LCAT-like Arabidopsis thaliana gene encoding a novel phospholipase A FEBS Letters 586(4):373-377
  5. Singer, S.D., Greer, M.S., Mietkiewska, E., Pan, X., Weselake, R.J. Genetic engineering of lipid biosynthesis in the seeds of crucifer species Biotechnology of Crucifers Gupta S.K. ed.  July 31 2013; invited
  6. Chen, G., Greer, M.S., Weselake, R.J (2013) Plant Phospholipase A: Advances in molecular biology, biochemistry and cellular function Biomolecular concepts 4(5): 527–532; invited
  7. Greer, M. S., Zhou,T., Weselake, R. J. (2014) A novel assay of DGAT activity based on high temperature GC/MS of triacylglycerol Lipids 49(8):831-838
  8. Mietkiewska, E., Miles, R., Wickramarathna, A., Sahibollah, A. F., Greer, M. S.,  Chen, G., Weselake, R. J. (2014)  Combined transgenic expression of Punica granatum conjugase (FADX) and FAD2 desaturase in high linoleic acid Arabidopsis thaliana mutant leads to increased accumulation of punicic acid. Planta 240(3):575-583
  9. Greer, M. S., Truksa, M., Deng, W., Lung, S.-C., Chen, G., Weselake, R.J (2014) Engineering increased triacylglycerol accumulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a modified type-1 plant diacylglycerol acyltransferase Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 99(5): 2243-2253
  10. Caldo, K.M., Greer, M.S., Chen, G., Lemieux, M. J., Weselake, R.J. (2015) Purification and properties of recombinant Brassica napus diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 FEBS Letters 589 (6) 773–778
  11. Pan, X., Chen, G., Kazachkov, M., Greer, M.S., Caldo, K.M.P, Zou, J., Weselake, R. J. (2015) In vivo and In vitro Evidence for biochemical coupling of reactions catalyzed by lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase and diacylglycerol acyltransferase Journal of Biological Chemistry  290 (29): 18068-78
  12. Greer, M.S., Pan, X., Weselake, R. J. (2016) Two Clades of Type-1 Brassica napus Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase Exhibit Differences in Acyl-CoA Preference Lipids 51(6):781-6

 

Presentations

 

  1. Greer, M.S.,* Eudes, F., and Kovalchuk, I. (2007) Improved somatic embryogenesis yield and biolistic transformation efficiency in Triticum aestivum (Superb).  2007 CSPP Western Regional Meeting. Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, February 22-24, 2007 (Poster).
  2. Greer, M.S.,* Eudes, F., and Kovalchuk, I. (2007) Improved somatic embryogenesis yield and biolistic transformation efficiency in Triticum aestivum (Superb). 2007 Annual Meeting of CPS-SCP (with Plant Canada 2007), Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, June 10-14, 2007 (Poster).
  3. Greer, M.S.,* Truksa, M., Weselake, R. J. (2010) Biochemical regulation of diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT).   Agriculture, forestry and nutritional science graduate studies open house, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, March 5, 2010 (Poster).
  4. Truksa, M., Sharma, N.,* Greer, M.S., Deng, W., Weselake, R. J. (2010) Molecular characterization and expression of DGAT1 genes in Brassica napus. 17th Crucifer Genetics Workshop Brassica Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, September 5-8, 2010 (Poster).
  5. Greer, M.S.,* Truksa, M., Sharma, N., Deng, W., Weselake, R.J. (2011) Putative Regulation of Brassica napus diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) mediated by its N-terminal domain. 102nd American Oil Chemists' Society Annual Meeting & Expo, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, May 1-4, 2011 (Oral).
  6. Sharma, N.,* Greer, M.S., Truksa, M., Deng, W., Weselake, R.J. (2011) Putative regulatory role of the N-terminal domain of Brassica napus diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1). 24th Canadian Conference on Fats and Oils, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, September 26-27 (Poster).
  7. Greer, M.S.* (2011) Future Influencers Panel. Grow Canada Conference Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, November 28 -December 1, (Invited panelist member, Oral).
  8. Greer, M.S.,* Truksa, M., Sharma, N., Deng, W., Weselake, R. J. (2012)  Improved stability and activity of Brassica napus type 1 diacylglycerol acyltransferase expressed in S. cerevisiae H1246. Canadian Society of Plant Physiologists Annual Meeting, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada June 25-27 (Oral).
  9. Greer, M.S.,* Truska, M., Lung, S.-C., Weselake, R. J. (2012) Enhanced production in yeast and substrate specificities of four variants of type 1 diacylglycerol acyltransferase from Brassica napus 20th International Symposium on Plant Lipids, Savilla, Spain, July 8th-13th (Oral).
  10. Greer, M.S.,* Weselake, R. J. (2013) Yeast, a Valuable Resource for Seed Oil Biotechnology   Agriculture, forestry and nutritional science graduate studies open house, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada March 2-5, 2013 (Oral).
  11. Weselake, R.J.,* Chen, G., Greer, M.S., Pan, X. (2013) The recombinant yeast system as teaching tool in plant lipid biotechnology  104th American Oil Chemists' Society Annual Meeting & Expo, Montreal, Quebec, Canada April 28-May 4 (Oral).
  12. Caldo, K.M.,* Greer, M.S., Chen, G., Lemieux, M.J., Weselake, R.J. (2014) Solubilization and purification of recombinant Brassica napus diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1. 105th Annual Meeting & Expo of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, San Antonio, Texas, May 4-7 (Oral).
  13. Greer, M.S.,* Weselake, R. J. (2014) Engineering Increased plant diacylglycerol acyltransferase accumulation in baker’s yeast 105th American Oil Chemists' Society Annual Meeting & Expo, San Antonio, Texas, USA May 4-8 (Oral).
  14. Mietkiewska, E.,* Miles, M., Wickramarathna A.,  Sahibollah A. F., Greer M. S., Chen G.,  Weselake R.J. (2014) Production of oils with punicic acid using combined transgenic over-expression of Punica granatum conjugase (FADX) and oleate desaturase (FAD2) in the Arabidopsis thaliana fad3fae1 mutant.  21st International Symposium on Plant Lipids, Guelph, Canada - July 6-11, 2014. (Oral).
  15. Weselake, R.J.,* Chen, G., Pan, X., Siloto, R.M.P., Caldo, K., Liu, Q., Greer, M.S., Xu, Y. (2014) Triacylglycerol-biosynthetic enzymes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and oleaginous crops, and strategies for boosting biomass oil content. 41st Annual Conference on Yeast, Smolenice, Slovakia, May 20-23 (Oral).
  16. Mietkiewska, E., Miles, M., Wickramarathna, A., Sahibollah, A.F., Greer M.S., Chen G. Weselake RJ* (2014) Bio-engineering of punicic acid production in a Brassicaceae. 10th International Symposium on Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan October 28-31, 2014 (Oral).
  17. Chen, G.*,Tian, B., Greer , M.S.,  Caldo, K. M., Singer, S., Mietkiewska , E., Dyer, J., Smith, M., Qiu, X., Stymne,S., Weselake , R.J. (2015) Biochemical Properties of Lesquerella Fendleri LCAT-Like Phospholipase A 11th International Symposium on Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology Banff, Alberta, Canada September 13-16, 2015. (Oral).
  18. Weselake, R.J.*, Greer, M.S., Pan, X.,  Xu, Y., Mietkiewska, E., Chen, G., Singer, S.D. (2015) Insights into the role of acyltransferases in seed oil biosynthesis 25th Canadian conference on Fats and Oils Quebec City, Quebec, Canada October 4-6, 2015 (Oral).
  19. Pan, X.,*  Stymne, S.,  Zou, J., Qiu, X., Chen, G., Kazachkov, M.,  Greer, M.S., Lager, I., Weselake, R.J (2015) In vivo and In vitro Evidence for Biochemical Coupling of Reactions Catalyzed by  Lysophosphatidylcholine Acyltransferase and Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase 106th AOCS Annual Meeting and Industry Showcases Orlando, Florida, USA May 3-6, 2015 (Oral).
  20. Caldo, K.M.P, Greer, M.S., Chen, G., Lemieux, M.J., Weselake, R.J.* (2015) Characterization of Brassica napus Diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 and the Enzyme's N-terminal Region 106th American Oil Chemists' Society Annual Meeting & Expo, Orlando, Florida, USA May 3-6, 2015 (Oral).
  21. Greer, M.S.,* Pan, X., Caldo, K.M., Chen, G. Weselake R.J. (2015) Recombinant production and characterization of type 1 Brassica napus Diacylglycerol Acyltransferases 11th International Symposium on Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology Banff, Alberta, Canada, September 13-16,  2015, (Oral).
  22. Mietkiewska, E.,* Miles, R., Wickramarathna, A., Schieck, A., Shah, S., Sahibollah, A.F., Greer, M.S., Weselake, R. J. (2015) Development of bioactive oils enriched in punicic acid 11th International Symposium on Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology Banff, Alberta, Canada, September 13-16,  2015, to September 16, 2015 (Oral).
  23. Chen, G.,* Tian, B., Greer, M.S.,  Caldo, K.M,  Singer, S., Mietkiewska, E., Dyer, J., Smith, M., Qiu, X., Stymne, S., Weselake, R. J. (2015) Biochemical properties of Lesquerella fendleri LCAT-like phospholipase A 11th International Symposium on Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology Banff, Alberta, Canada, September 13-16,  2015, to September 16, 2015 (Oral).
  24. Greer, M. S.,* Zhou, T.,  Weselake, R.J. (2015) A novel assay of DGAT activity based on high temperature GC/MS of triacylglycerol 2015 Phytola Science Meeting Banff, Alberta, Canada, September 6-7, 2015 (Poster).
  25. Mietkiewska E., Miles, R., Wickramarathna, A., Scheick, A., Shah, S., Song, Z., Sahibollah, A.F., Greer, M.S., Field, C.J., Weselake, R.J.* (2016) Metabolic engineering of Arabidopsis and temperate oilseed crops to produce punicic acid. 107th American Oil Chemists' Society Annual Meeting & Expo. Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, May 1–4, 2016 (Oral)

 

*presenter

 

Technical Reports

 

  1. Greer, M.S. , Facciotti, D., Kazala, E.C., Knauf, V., Weselake, R.J. (2015) Application of Genomics for Increasing Seed Oil Content in Soybean-Quarterly Report for: Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP) July 28, 2015 (Technical Report)
  2. Greer, M.S. , Facciotti, D., Kazala, E.C., Knauf, V., Weselake, R.J. (2015) Application of Genomics for Increasing Seed Oil Content in Soybean-Quarterly Report for: Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP) October 28, 2015 (Technical Report)
  3. Greer, M.S. , Facciotti, D., Kazala, E.C., Knauf, V., Weselake, R.J. (2016) Application of Genomics for Increasing Seed Oil Content in Soybean-Quarterly Report for: Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP) January 28, 2016 (Technical Report)

 

Grant Writing

 

  • 2015  Dr. Guanqun Chen (University of Manitoba) Molecular mechanism of carotenoid esterification in microalgae, NSERC Discovery Grant†
  • 2015  Dr. Igor Kovalchuk (University of Lethbridge) Epigenetics of transgenerational response to stress, NSERC Discovery Grant†
  • 2013  Dr. Randall J. Weselake (University of Alberta) Triacylglycerol biosynthesis in plants, NSERC Discovery Grant†
  • 2013  Dr. Randall J. Weselake (University of Alberta) Alberta Innovates Phytola Centre Scientific Plan, Alberta Innovates†

 

†provided assistance through scientific critique, composition of text, and proofreading, but was not a co-author for the indicated grant application.

 

Awards and Scholarships

Major Awards

  • 2013  Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship
  • 2011  President’s Doctoral Prize of Distinction
  • 2011  Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s  Alexander Graham Bell Canada  Graduate Scholarship
  • 2011 Alberta Innovates Graduate Student NSERC Top-Up Award
  • 2006  Keith & Hope Ferguson Memorial Award
  • 2002  Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s Undergraduate Student Research Award

 

Additional Awards

  • 2014  Canadian American Oil Chemists’ Societies student award
  • 2014  American Oil Chemists’ Societies  1st place Biotechnology Student Excellence Award
  • 2012  Dr. Bruce Jeffery Canola Travel Award
  • 2012  TVG – BIOTECanada Student Bursary
  • 2011  American Oil Chemists’ Societies  1st place Biotechnology Student Excellence Award
  • 2011  AOCS Honored Student Award
  • 2010  Dr. Bruce Jeffery Canola Travel Award
  • 2010  Plant Metabolism Travel Award
  • 2009  AFNS Tuition Scholarship
  • 2006  Graduate Student Scholarship
  • 2006  Jason Lang
  • 2005  Jason Lang
  • 2004  Jason Lang
  • 2003  Jason Lang
  • 2002  Alexander Rutherford
  • 2001  Alexander Rutherford
  • 2001  Board of Governors

 

Languages Spoken

  • English (native)
  • French (proficiently)

 

 

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