Dr Andrew Simkin

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Email
asimkin@essex.ac.uk -
Location
Colchester Campus
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Academic support hours
Molecular Biology: Genes, Proteins and Disease (BS221)
Profile
Biography
My principal research activities over the past 20 years have focused on the production of secondary metabolites implicated in the nutritional quality of foods (tomato, pepper, coffee) and in plant development (tomato, tobacco, petunia, Catharanthus, Arabidopsis). This research has essentially concentrated on carotenoid/ apocarotenoid metabolism and the production of terpenoids implicated in plant development (strigolactones). More recently, my work (University or 糖心Vlog) has focused on primary metabolism and the improvement of photosynthesis through genetic manipulation. I am interested in manipulating photosynthesis to improve biomass and fruit yields for the horticultural industry and important oil crops. Further interested in all areas of plant development 鈥 from improving fruit quality and development targeting increased fruit yields (and quality), bio-pharmaceuticals and industrially important secondary metabolites (high-value metabolites (include biofuels, bioplastics) and bio-fortification of food crops).
Qualifications
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Habilitation a Diriger des Recherche François Rabelais University, (2010)
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PhD Joseph Fourier University, (2002)
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Masters Degree Liverpool John Moores University, (1996)
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BSc (Hons) Liverpool John Moores University, (1995)
Appointments
糖心Vlog
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Lecturer, Life Sciences, 糖心Vlog (1/8/2023 - present)
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Post-Doc, Life Sciences, 糖心Vlog (5/3/2012 - 31/10/2017)
Other academic
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Growing Kent and Medway Industrial Research Fellow, School of Biosciences, University of Kent (1/8/2021 - 31/7/2023)
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Research Fellow, Plant Molecular Biology, François Rabelais University (1/9/2008 - 31/8/2010)
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Post-Doc, Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida (3/3/2002 - 2/3/2004)
Research and professional activities
Research interests
Crop Nutrition (Focus on fruit and crops)
Secondary Metabolism (focus on carotenoids and vitamins)
Primary Metabolism (non-foliar photosynthesis)
Primary Metabolism (photosynthesis, photorespiration, electron transport))
Plant Pharming (Plant based antibodies and vaccines)
Genetic manipulation of guard cell metabolism
Genetic Modification for improved crop production
Teaching and supervision
Current teaching responsibilities
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Transferable Skills in Life Sciences (BS143)
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Molecular Biology: Genes, Proteins and Disease (BS221)
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Plant Molecular Physiology and Genetics (BS234)
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Plant Biotechnology (BS323)
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Gene Technology and Synthetic Biology (BS934)
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Research Project: MSc Biotechnology (BS984)
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Research Project in Life Sciences (BS832)
Current supervision
Publications
Journal articles (66)
Ludwig, M., Hartwell, J., Raines, CA. and Simkin, AJ., (2024). . Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology. 155 (Pt A), 10-22
Battle, MW., Vialet-Chabrand, S., Kasznicki, P., Simkin, AJ. and Lawson, T., (2024). . Journal of Experimental Botany. 75 (21), 6796-6809
Hancock, RD., Schulz, E., Verrall, SR., Taylor, J., M茅ret, M., Brennan, RM., Bishop, GJ., Else, M., Cross, JV. and Simkin, AJ., (2024). . Biochemical Journal. 481 (16), 1057-1073
Vignati, E., Caccamo, M., Dunwell, JM. and Simkin, AJ., (2024). . Plants. 13 (15), 2052-2052
Varghese, R., Cherukuri, AK., Doddrell, NH., Doss, CGP., Simkin, AJ. and Ramamoorthy, S., (2023). . Plant Science. 335, 111795-111795
Simkin, AJ., Alqurashi, M., Lopez-Calcagno, PE., Headland, LR. and Raines, CA., (2023). . Plant Physiology. 192 (4), 2989-3000
Doddrell, NH., Lawson, T., Raines, CA., Wagstaff, C. and Simkin, AJ., (2023). . Horticulture Research. 10 (4), uhad026-
Ruiz-Vera, UM., Acevedo-Siaca, LG., Brown, KL., Afamefule, C., Gherli, H., Simkin, AJ., Long, SP., Lawson, T. and Raines, CA., (2022). . Journal of Experimental Botany. 73 (14), 4897-4907
Simkin, AJ., Kapoor, L., Doss, CGP., Hofmann, TA., Lawson, T. and Ramamoorthy, S., (2022). . Photosynthesis Research. 152 (1), 23-42
Kapoor, L., Simkin, AJ., George Priya Doss, C. and Siva, R., (2022). . BMC Plant Biology. 22 (1), 27-
Vignati, E., Lipska, M., Dunwell, JM., Caccamo, M. and Simkin, AJ., (2022). . Planta. 256 (5), 90-
Vignati, E., Lipska, M., Dunwell, JM., Caccamo, M. and Simkin, AJ., (2022). . Plants. 11 (12), 1531-1531
Simkin, AJ., (2021). . Plants. 10 (11), 2321-2321
Simkin, AJ., Faralli, M., Ramamoorthy, S. and Lawson, T., (2020). . The Plant Journal. 101 (4), 1001-1015
Lopez-Calcagno, PE., Brown, KL., Simkin, AJ., Fisk, SJ., Vialet-Chabrand, S., Lawson, T. and Raines, C., (2020). . Nature Plants. 6 (8), 1054-1063
Simkin, AJ., L贸pez-Calcagno, PE. and Raines, CA., (2019). . Journal of Experimental Botany. 70 (4), 1119-1140
Simkin, AJ., (2019). . Plants. 8 (12), 586-586
Wilson, FM., Harrison, K., Armitage, AD., Simkin, AJ. and Harrison, RJ., (2019). . Plant Methods. 15 (1), 45-
Alotaibi, SS., Sparks, CA., Parry, MAJ., Simkin, AJ. and Raines, CA., (2018). . Plants. 7 (2), 27-27
Alotaibi, S., Alyasi, H., El-Shehawi, A., Gaber, A., Hassan, M., Aljuaid, B., Simkin, A. and Raines, C., (2018). Functional Analysis of SBPase Gene Promoter in Transgenic Wheat under Abiotic Stresses. Biotechnology(Faisalabad). 18 (1), 15-23
Simkin, AJ., Lopez-Calcagno, PE., Davey, PA., Headland, LR., Lawson, T., Timm, S., Bauwe, H. and Raines, CA., (2017). . Plant Biotechnology Journal. 15 (7), 805-816
Vialet-Chabrand, S., Matthews, JSA., Simkin, AJ., Raines, CA. and Lawson, T., (2017). . Plant Physiology. 173 (4), 2163-2179
Simkin, AJ., McAusland, L., Lawson, T. and Raines, CA., (2017). . Plant Physiology. 175 (1), 134-145
Driever, SM., Simkin, AJ., Alotaibi, S., Fisk, S., Madgwick, PJ., Sparks, CA., Jones, HD., Lawson, T., Parry, MAJ. and Raines, CA., (2017). . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 372 (1730), 20160384-20160384
Exposito-Rodriguez, M., Laissue, PP., L贸pez-Calcagno, PE., Mullineaux, PM., Raines, CA. and Simkin, AJ., (2017). . Plants. 6 (4), 55-55
Simkin, AJ., McAusland, L., Headland, LR., Lawson, T. and Raines, CA., (2015). . Journal of Experimental Botany. 66 (13), 4075-4090
Houill茅, B., Besseau, S., Delanoue, G., Oudin, A., Papon, N., Clastre, M., Simkin, AJ., Gu茅rin, L., Courdavault, V., Giglioli-Guivarc'h, N. and Lanoue, A., (2015). . Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 63 (38), 8472-8477
Houill茅, B., Besseau, S., Courdavault, V., Oudin, A., Gl茅varec, G., Delanoue, G., Gu茅rin, L., Simkin, AJ., Papon, N., Clastre, M., Giglioli-Guivarc'h, N. and Lanoue, A., (2015). . Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 63 (5), 1631-1638
Lawson, T., Simkin, AJ., Kelly, G. and Granot, D., (2014). . New Phytologist. 203 (4), 1064-1081
Obando Montoya, EJ., M茅lin, C., Blanc, N., Lanoue, A., Foureau, E., Boudesocque, L., Prie, G., Simkin, AJ., Cr猫che, J., Atehort霉a, L., Giglioli鈥怗uivarc'h, N., Clastre, M., Courdavault, V. and Papon, N., (2014). . Yeast. 31 (7), 243-251
Defosse, TA., Melin, C., Obando Montoya, EJ., Lanoue, A., Foureau, E., Gl茅varec, G., Oudin, A., Simkin, AJ., Cr猫che, J., Atehort霉a, L., Giglioli-Guivarc鈥檋, N., Clastre, M., Courdavault, V. and Papon, N., (2014). . Journal of Biotechnology. 180, 37-42
Foureau, E., Clastre, M., Obando Montoya, EJ., Besseau, S., Oudin, A., Gl茅varec, G., Simkin, AJ., Cr猫che, J., Atehort霉a, L., Giglioli-Guivarc鈥檋, N., Courdavault, V. and Papon, N., (2014). . Fungal Genetics and Biology. 65, 25-36
Obando Montoya, EJ., M锟絣in, C., Blanc, N., Lanoue, A., Foureau, E., Boudesocque, L., Prie, G., Simkin, AJ., Cr锟絚he, J., Atehort锟絘, L., Giglioli-Guivarc'h, N., Clastre, M., Courdavault, V. and Papon, N., (2014). Disrupting the methionine biosynthetic pathway in Candida guilliermondii: characterization of the MET gene as counter-selectable marker. Yeast. 31 (7), 243-251
Foureau, E., Courdavault, V., Rojas, LF., Dutilleul, C., Simkin, AJ., Cr猫che, J., Atehort霉a, L., Giglioli-Guivarc鈥檋, N., Clastre, M. and Papon, N., (2013). Efficient gene targeting in a Candida guilliermondii non-homologous end-joining pathway-deficient strain. Biotechnology Letters. 35 (7), 1035-1043
Papon, N., Savini, V., Lanoue, A., Simkin, AJ., Cr猫che, J., Giglioli-Guivarc鈥檋, N., Clastre, M., Courdavault, V. and Sibirny, AA., (2013). Candida guilliermondii: biotechnological applications, perspectives for biological control, emerging clinical importance and recent advances in genetics. Current Genetics. 59 (3), 73-90
Foureau, E., Courdavault, V., Navarro Gall贸n, SM., Besseau, S., Simkin, AJ., Cr猫che, J., Atehort霉a, L., Giglioli-Guivarc鈥檋, N., Clastre, M. and Papon, N., (2013). Characterization of an autonomously replicating sequence in Candida guilliermondii. Microbiological Research. 168 (9), 580-588
Simkin, AJ., Miettinen, K., Claudel, P., Burlat, V., Guirimand, G., Courdavault, V., Papon, N., Meyer, S., Godet, S., St-Pierre, B., Giglioli-Guivarc鈥檋, N., Fischer, MJC., Memelink, J. and Clastre, M., (2013). Characterization of the plastidial geraniol synthase from Madagascar periwinkle which initiates the monoterpenoid branch of the alkaloid pathway in internal phloem associated parenchyma. Phytochemistry. 85, 36-43
Foureau, E., Courdavault, V., Simkin, AJ., Sibirny, AA., Cr猫che, J., Giglioli-Guivarc'h, N., Clastre, M. and Papon, N., (2013). Transformation ofCandida guilliermondiiwild-type strains using theStaphylococcus aureusMRSA 252blegene as a phleomycin-resistant marker. FEMS Yeast Research. 13 (3), 354-358
Foureau, E., Courdavault, V., Simkin, AJ., Pichon, O., Cr猫che, J., Giglioli-Guivarc'h, N., Clastre, M. and Papon, N., (2012). Optimization of the URA-blaster disruption system in Candida guilliermondii: Efficient gene targeting using the URA3 marker. Journal of Microbiological Methods. 91 (1), 117-120
Papon, N., Courdavault, V., Clastre, M., Simkin, AJ., Cr猫che, J. and Giglioli-Guivarc鈥檋, N., (2012). Deus ex Candida genetics: overcoming the hurdles for the development of a molecular toolbox in the CTG clade. Microbiology. 158 (3), 585-600
Guirimand, G., Simkin, AJ., Papon, N., Besseau, S., Burlat, V., St-Pierre, B., Giglioli-Guivarc鈥檋, N., Clastre, M. and Courdavault, V., (2012). Cycloheximide as a tool to investigate protein import in peroxisomes: A case study of the subcellular localization of isoprenoid biosynthetic enzymes. Journal of Plant Physiology. 169 (8), 825-829
Foureau, E., Clastre, M., Millerioux, Y., Simkin, AJ., Cornet, L., Dutilleul, C., Besseau, S., Marais, E., Melin, C., Guillard, J., Cr猫che, J., Giglioli-Guivarc鈥檋, N., Courdavault, V. and Papon, N., (2012). A TRP5/5-fluoroanthranilic acid counter-selection system for gene disruption in Candida guilliermondii. Current Genetics. 58 (4), 245-254
Thabet, I., Guirimand, G., Guihur, A., Lanoue, A., Courdavault, V., Papon, N., Bouzid, S., Giglioli-Guivarc鈥檋, N., Simkin, AJ. and Clastre, M., (2012). Characterization and subcellular localization of geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase from Catharanthus roseus. Molecular Biology Reports. 39 (3), 3235-3243
Thabet, I., Gr茅gory Guirimand, G., Guihur, A., Lanoue, A., Courdavault, V., Papon, N., Bouzid, S., Giglioli-Guivarc'h, N., Simkin, AJ. and Clastre, M., (2012). Characterization and subcellular localization of geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase from Catharanthus roseus. Molecular Biology Reports. 39 (3), 3235-3243
Courdavault, V., Millerioux, Y., Clastre, M., Simkin, AJ., Marais, E., Cr猫che, J., Giglioli-Guivarc鈥檋, N. and Papon, N., (2011). Fluorescent protein fusions in Candida guilliermondii. Fungal Genetics and Biology. 48 (11), 1004-1011
Thabet, I., Guirimand, G., Courdavault, V., Papon, N., Godet, S., Dutilleul, C., Bouzid, S., Giglioli-Guivarc鈥檋, N., Clastre, M. and Simkin, AJ., (2011). The subcellular localization of periwinkle farnesyl diphosphate synthase provides insight into the role of peroxisome in isoprenoid biosynthesis. Journal of Plant Physiology. 168 (17), 2110-2116
Clastre, M., Papon, N., Courdavault, V., Giglioli-Guivarc鈥檋, N., St-Pierre, B. and Simkin, AJ., (2011). Subcellular evidence for the involvement of peroxisomes in plant isoprenoid biosynthesis. Plant Signaling & Behavior. 6 (12), 2044-2046
Millerioux, Y., Clastre, M., Simkin, AJ., Marais, E., Sibirny, AA., No毛l, T., Cr猫che, J., Giglioli-Guivarc'h, N. and Papon, N., (2011). Development of a URA5 integrative cassette for gene disruption in the Candida guilliermondii ATCC 6260 strain. Journal of Microbiological Methods. 84 (2), 355-358
Millerioux, Y., Clastre, M., Simkin, AJ., Courdavault, V., Marais, E., Sibirny, AA., No毛l, T., Cr猫che, J., Giglioli-Guivarc'h, N. and Papon, N., (2011). Drug-resistant cassettes for the efficient transformation of Candida guilliermondii鈥僿ild-type strains. FEMS Yeast Research. 11 (6), 457-463
Simkin, AJ., Guirimand, G., Papon, N., Courdavault, V., Thabet, I., Ginis, O., Bouzid, S., Giglioli-Guivarc鈥檋, N. and Clastre, M., (2011). Peroxisomal localisation of the final steps of the mevalonic acid pathway in planta. Planta. 234 (5), 903-914
Simkin, AJ., Kuntz, M., Moreau, H. and McCarthy, J., (2010). Carotenoid profiling and the expression of carotenoid biosynthetic genes in developing coffee grain. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 48 (6), 434-442
Vogel, JT., Walter, MH., Giavalisco, P., Lytovchenko, A., Kohlen, W., Charnikhova, T., Simkin, AJ., Goulet, C., Strack, D., Bouwmeester, HJ., Fernie, AR. and Klee, HJ., (2010). SlCCD7 controls strigolactone biosynthesis, shoot branching and mycorrhiza-induced apocarotenoid formation in tomato. The Plant Journal. 61 (2), 300-311
Simkin, AJ., Moreau, H., Kuntz, M., Pagny, G., Lin, C., Tanksley, S. and McCarthy, J., (2008). An investigation of carotenoid biosynthesis in Coffea canephora and Coffea arabica. Journal of Plant Physiology. 165 (10), 1087-1106
Simkin, AJ., Gaff茅, J., Alcaraz, J-P., Carde, J-P., Bramley, PM., Fraser, PD. and Kuntz, M., (2007). Fibrillin influence on plastid ultrastructure and pigment content in tomato fruit. Phytochemistry. 68 (11), 1545-1556
Lepelley, M., Cheminade, G., Tremillon, N., Simkin, A., Caillet, V. and McCarthy, J., (2007). Chlorogenic acid synthesis in coffee: An analysis of CGA content and real-time RT-PCR expression of HCT, HQT, C3H1, and CCoAOMT1 genes during grain development in C. canephora. Plant Science. 172 (5), 978-996
Simkin, AJ., Qian, T., Caillet, V., Michoux, F., Ben Amor, M., Lin, C., Tanksley, S. and McCarthy, J., (2006). Oleosin gene family of Coffea canephora: Quantitative expression analysis of five oleosin genes in developing and germinating coffee grain. Journal of Plant Physiology. 163 (7), 691-708
Snowden, KC., Simkin, AJ., Janssen, BJ., Templeton, KR., Loucas, HM., Simons, JL., Karunairetnam, S., Gleave, AP., Clark, DG. and Klee, HJ., (2005). The Decreased apical dominance1/Petunia hybrida CAROTENOID CLEAVAGE DIOXYGENASE8 Gene Affects Branch Production and Plays a Role in Leaf Senescence, Root Growth, and Flower Development. The Plant Cell. 17 (3), 746-759
Snowden, KC., Simkin, AJ., Janssen, BJ., Templeton, KR., Loucas, HM., Simons, JL., Karunairetnam, S., Gleave, AP., Clark, DG. and Klee, HJ., (2005). The Decreased apical dominance 1/petunia hybrida carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase8 gene affects branch production and plays a role in leaf senescence, root growth, and flower development. PLANT CELL. 17 (3), 746-759
Underwood, BA., Tieman, DM., Shibuya, K., Dexter, RJ., Loucas, HM., Simkin, AJ., Sims, CA., Schmelz, EA., Klee, HJ. and Clark, DG., (2005). Ethylene-Regulated Floral Volatile Synthesis in Petunia Corollas 聽. Plant Physiology. 138 (1), 255-266
Simkin, AJ., Schwartz, SH., Auldridge, M., Taylor, MG. and Klee, HJ., (2004). The tomato carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 1 genes contribute to the formation of the flavor volatiles 尾鈥恑onone, pseudoionone, and geranylacetone. The Plant Journal. 40 (6), 882-892
Simkin, AJ., Underwood, BA., Auldridge, M., Loucas, HM., Shibuya, K., Schmelz, E., Clark, DG. and Klee, HJ., (2004). Circadian Regulation of the PhCCD1 Carotenoid Cleavage Dioxygenase Controls Emission of 尾-Ionone, a Fragrance Volatile of Petunia Flowers. Plant Physiology. 136 (3), 3504-3514
Simkin, AJ., Zhu, C., Kuntz, M. and Sandmann, G., (2003). Light-dark regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis in pepper (Capsicum annuum) leaves. Journal of Plant Physiology. 160 (5), 439-443
Simkin, AJ., Labour茅, A-M., Kuntz, M. and Sandmann, G., (2003). Comparison of Carotenoid Content, Gene Expression and Enzyme Levels in Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) Leaves. Zeitschrift f眉r Naturforschung C. 58 (5-6), 371-380
Josse, E-M., Simkin, AJ., Gaffe虂, J., Laboure虂, A-M., Kuntz, M. and Carol, P., (2000). A Plastid Terminal Oxidase Associated with Carotenoid Desaturation during Chromoplast Differentiation. Plant Physiology. 123 (4), 1427-1436
Simkin, AJ., Breitenbach, J., Kuntz, M. and Sandmann, G., (2000). In vitro and in situ inhibition of carotenoid biosynthesis in Capsicum annuum by bleaching herbicides.. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry. 48 (10), 4676-4680
Kuntz, Chen, Simkin, R枚mer, Shipton, Drake, Schuch and Bramley, (1998). Upregulation of two ripening鈥恟elated genes from a non鈥恈limacteric plant (pepper) in a transgenic climacteric plant (tomato). The Plant Journal. 13 (3), 351-361
Book chapters (2)
Raines, CA., Cavanagh, AP. and Simkin, AJ., (2022). Improving carbon fixation. In: Photosynthesis in Action. Elsevier. 175- 192. 9780128237816
Courdavault, V., Clastre, M., Simkin, AJ. and Giglioli-Guivarc鈥檋, N., (2012). Prenylated Proteins Are Required for Methyl-Jasmonate-Induced Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloids Biosynthesis in Catharanthus roseus. In: Isoprenoid Synthesis in Plants and Microorganisms. Springer New York. 285- 296. 9781461440628
Reports and Papers (3)
L贸pez-Calcagno, PE., Brown, KL., Simkin, AJ., Fisk, SJ., Lawson, T. and Raines, CA., (2020). Simultaneous stimulation of RuBP regeneration and electron transport increases productivity and water use efficiency under field conditions
Simkin, AJ., McAusland, L., Lawson, T. and Raines, CA., (2017). Over-expression of the RieskeFeS protein increases electron transport rates and yield inArabidopsis
Bertolla, F., Pepin, R., Passelegue-Robe, E., Paget, E., Simkin, A., Nesme, X. and Simonet, P., (2000). Plant genome complexity could be the main factor limiting in situ the transfer of transgenic plants genes to the pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum
Grants and funding
2024
Using gene technology for improving crops morphology for protected environments
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Contact
Academic support hours:
Molecular Biology: Genes, Proteins and Disease (BS221)
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