MICHAEL SCHLÄPPI 
Associate Professor 

WLS 207 
(414) 288-1480 
email: michael.schlappi@marquette.edu

Click on the Lab Webpage for more information about Dr. Schläppi's research program, coursework and a complete list of publications.

Molecular Biology of Cold Acclimation and Flowering Time Regulation in Plants 

We have molecular and genetic projects to investigate cold acclimation and flowering time regulation in the model plant Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). The EARLI1 type hybrid proline-rich gene family of Arabidopsis is cold responsive and protects plant and yeast cells from freezing death. We are currently investigating which protein domains are necessary for stress tolerance in yeast. Information gained from this line of research will be used to improve stress tolerance of agricultural plants. FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), an epigenetically regulated flowering time repressor in Arabidopsis is activated by two coiled-coil domain genes, FRIGIDA (FRI) and FRIGIDA LIKE 1 (FRL1). We have shown that there is natural variation at FRL1 and that some ecotypes substitute inactive FRL1 alleles with active alleles of a second gene, FRL2. We are currently investigating which protein domains of naturally occurring FRL alleles are necessary for FLC activation. Our long-term goal is to determine whether FRI and FRL proteins regulate FLC activity at the chromatin level, and whether homologs of these genes exist in biennial crops such as sugar beet (Beta vulgaris vulgaris) or henbane (Hyoscyamus niger).

For more details on projects, please click on research program. 

Selected References

Wilkosz, R. and Schläppi, M. 2000.  A gene expression screen identifies EARLI1 as a novel vernalization-responsive gene in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Mol. Biol. 44: 777-787.

Schläppi, M. 2001.  RNA levels and activity of FLOWERING LOCUS C are modified in mixed genetic backgrounds of Arabidopsis thaliana. Int. J. Plant Sci. 162: 527-537.

Schläppi, M. and Patel, M. 2001.  Biennialism and vernalization-promoted flowering in Hyoscyamus niger: a comparison with Arabidopsis. Flowering Newslet. 31: 25-32. 

Bubier, J. and Schläppi, M.  2004.  Cold induction of EARLI1, a putative Arabidopsis lipid transfer protein, is light and calcium dependent. Plant Cell and Environment 27: 929-936.

Schläppi, M. 2006.  FRIGIDA LIKE 2 is a functional allele in Landsberg erecta and compensates for a nonsense allele of FRIGIDA LIKE 1.  Plant Physiol. 142: 1728-1783.

Zhang, Y. and Schläppi, M. 2007. Cold responsive EARLI1 type HyPRPs improve freezing survival of yeast cells and form higher order complexes in plants. Planta: in press.

Abstracts Presented at Meetings During 2006/2007

Schläppi, M.  2006.  FRL2 in Landsberg erecta is functional and compensates for a nonsense allele of FRL1. Plant Biology 2006. Abstract P42013.

Zhang, Y. and Schläppi, M.  2006.  The cold-responsive hybrid proline-rich Arabidopsis protein EARLI1 is localized to the cell periphery and forms higher order complexes through disulfide bonds. Plant Biology 2006. Abstract P09039.

Schläppi,  M.  2007. The cold responsive hybrid proline-rich Arabidopsis protein EARLI1 is localized to the cell periphery and forms protein complexes via disulfide bonds. 2007 Gordon Research Conference on Temperature Stress in Plants.

Courses

• Biol 002 - General Biology
• Biol 201 - Radioisotope Safety
• Biol 244 - Developmental Genetics and Epigenetics
• Biol 255 - Eukaryotic Genetics and Chromosome Structure
• Biol 325 - Special Topics in Plant Molecular Biology 

Current Students
M.S. 

• Ranjuna Weerasekera

Former Students 
Ph.D. 

• Jason A Bubier 
• Ying Pan
• Richard K Wilkosz 
• Yi Zhang 

M.S.

• Monica K Patel