Department of Biology

Deborah Robertson photo 

Deborah L. Robertson

Associate Professor of Biology
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program
Clark University
15 Maywood St.
Worcester, MA 01610-1477
Office: Room #231
Lab: Room #224
Phone: (508) 793-7515
Email:

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Current Research and Teaching

My research program investigates the physiological ecology and the evolution of nitrogen metabolism in marine diatoms and other ecologically important groups of marine algae. In many marine environments, nitrogen availability is an important factor regulating primary productivity. By characterizing the enzymes and regulatory pathways involved in nitrogen metabolism, this work should contribute to our understanding of the coupling between nitrogen metabolism and productivity.

The evolutionary history of several algal lineages is complex and riddled with endosymbiotic events, gene duplications, gene transfers, and gene losses. Genes involved in metabolic and regulatory pathways that were established following the endosymbiotic events should reflect the complex evolutionary history of the algal lineages. Current research efforts are focused on (1) examining the coordinated regulation and expression of proteins involved in nitrogen assimilation in marine diatoms, (2) characterizing glutamine synthetase expression in diatoms, dinoflagellates and other algal groups, and (3) using molecular data to explore the evolutionary history of genes involved in nitrogen assimilation. I anticipate that this research will contribute to our understanding of the cellular processes that regulate oceanic productivity and of the impact of anthropogenic nutrients on marine ecosystem. The work should also contribute to our understanding of the evolution of nitrogen metabolism in photosynthetic eukaryote

Selected Publications

Brown, K.L., K.I. Twing, and D.L. Robertson. 2009. Unraveling the regulation of nitrogen assimilation in the marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE): Diurnal variation in transcript levels for five genes involved in nitrogen assimilation. J. Phycol.45:413-426.

Banerjee, G., D.L. Robertson, T. Leonard. 2008. Hydrophobins Sc3 and Sc4 gene expression in mounds, fruiting bodies and vegetative hyphae of Schizophyllum commune. Fungal Genet. Biol., 45: 171-178 (doi:10:1016/j.fgb.2007.10.018)

Robertson, D.L. and A. Tartar. 2006. Evolution of glutamine synthetase in heterokonts: evidence for endosymbiotic gene transfer and the early evolution of photosynthesis. Mol. Biol. Evol. 23(5):1048-1055. [Abstract][PDF]

Takabayashi, M., F.P. Wilkerson and D.L. Robertson. 2005. Response of glutamine synthetase gene transcription and enzyme activity to external nitrogen sources in the diatom, Skeletonema costatum (Bacillariophyceae). J. Phycol. 41:84-94

Robertson, D.L., G.J. Smith, and R.S. Alberte. 2001. Glutamine synthetase in marine algae: New surprises from an old enzyme. J. Phycol. 37(5): 793-795

Okamoto, O.K., D.L. Robertson, T.Fagan, J.W. Hastings and P. Colepicolo. 2001. Different regulatory mechanisms modulate the expression of a dinoflagellate iron-superoxide dismutase. J. Biol. Chem.. 276: 19989-19993.

Li, L., L. Liu, R. Hong, D.L. Robertson, and J.W. Hastings. 2001. N-terminal histidines are responsible for the decrease in luciferase activity at pH 8. Biochemistry. 40(6):1844-1849.

Robertson, D.L., G.J. Smith, and R.S. Alberte. 1999. Characterization of a cDNA encoding glutamine synthetase from the marine diatom Skeletonema costatum. J. Phycol. 35:786-797.

Robertson, D.L., and R.S. Alberte. 1996. Purification and biochemical characterization of glutamine synthetase from Skeletonema costatum. Plant Physiol. 111:1169-1175.

Coyer, J.A., D.L. Robertson, R.S. Alberte. 1995. Genetic variability and parentage in Macrocystis pyrifera (Phaeophyceae) using multi-locus DNA fingerprinting. J. Phycol. 31:819-823.

Coyer, J.A., D.L. Robertson, and R.S. Alberte. 1994. Genetic variability within a population and between diploid/haploid tissue of Macrocystis pyrifera (Phaeophyceae). J. Phycol. 30:545-552.

Urbach, E., D.L. Robertson, and S.W. Chisholm. 1992. Multiple origins of prochlorophytes revealed by 16s rRNA phylogeny. Nature. 335:267-270.

Swift, H. and D.L. Robertson. 1991. Structural aspects of a Prochloron-tunicate symbiosis. Symbiosis. 10:95-113.

Bray, R.N., A.C. Miller, S.C. Johnson, P.R. Krausse, D.L. Robertson, A.M. Westcott. 1988. Ammonium excretion by macroinvertebrates and fishes on a subtidal rocky reef in southern California. Mar. Biol. 100:21-30.

Zimmerman, R.C. and D.L. Robertson. 1986. Effects of El Nino on local hydrography and growth of the giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, at Santa Catalina Island, California. Limnol. Oceanogr. 30(6):1298-1302.

Brown, K.L., K.I. Twing, and D.L. Robertson. 2009. Unraveling the regulation of nitrogen assimilation in the marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE): Diurnal variation in transcript levels for five genes involved in nitrogen assimilation. J. Phycol.45:413-426

 

Recent Grants

Robertson, D.L. 2005-2007. REU Supplements for CAREER: Nitrogen Assimilation in Marine Algae: Evolution, Physiology, and Educational Opportunities. National Science Foundation. (Total Funded: $23,340)

Foster, S.A., Livdahl, T., Robertson, D.L., and Hibbett, D.S. (co-directors). January 2006. Complementary Curricular Networks: Tools to Enhance Undergraduate Biology Education. (Funded: $300,000)

Livdahl, T. (PI) and Robertson, D.L. (Co-PI). June 2005. Ecology of large and small scale mosquito invasions. NIH, Academic Research Enhancement Award (Funded: $216, 900, 36 mos)

Robertson, D.L. March 2003. CAREER: Nitrogen Assimilation in Marine Algae: Evolution, Physiology, and Educational Opportunities. National Science Foundation. (Funded: $541,433, 60 mos).

Robertson, D.L. July 1997. Translational regulation of a circadian expressed protein. Individual National Research Service Award, National Institutes of Health. (Funded: $87,168, 36 mos.)