Peter Eastmond

Name	Peter Eastmond
Job title	Principal Research Scientist - Plant Biochemistry
Email address	peter.eastmond@rothamsted.ac.uk
Department	Plant Sciences and the Bioeconomy
Research cluster	PS: Oilseed Metabolism and Development
Preferred citation	Eastmond, P. J.
Office	Harpenden

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Research outputs

Ketocarotenoid production in tomato triggers metabolic reprogramming and cellular adaptation: The quest for homeostasis

Nogueira, M., Enfissi, E. M. A., Price, E. J., Menard, G. N., Venter, E., Eastmond, P. J., Bar, E., Lewinsohn, E. and Fraser, P. D. 2023. Ketocarotenoid production in tomato triggers metabolic reprogramming and cellular adaptation: The quest for homeostasis. Plant Biotechnology Journal. 22 (2), pp. 427-444. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.14196

A causal inference and Bayesian optimisation framework for modelling multi-trait relationships—Proof-of-concept using Brassica napus seed yield under controlled conditions

Calderwood, A., Siles-Suarez, L., Eastmond, P. J., Kurup, S. and Morris, R. 2023. A causal inference and Bayesian optimisation framework for modelling multi-trait relationships—Proof-of-concept using Brassica napus seed yield under controlled conditions. PLOS ONE. 18 (9), p. 0290429. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0290429

Burden tests can be used to map causal genes for a simple metabolic trait in an exome-sequenced polyploid mutant population

Menard, G. N. and Eastmond, P. J. 2022. Burden tests can be used to map causal genes for a simple metabolic trait in an exome-sequenced polyploid mutant population. Plant Biotechnology Journal. 20 (10), pp. 1850-1852. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.13890

Monogalactosyl Diacylglycerol Synthase 3 (OsMGD3) affects phosphate utilization and acquisition in rice

Verma, L., Bhadouria, J., Bhunia, R., Singh, S., Panchal, P., Bhatia, C., Eastmond, P. J. and Giri, J. 2022. Monogalactosyl Diacylglycerol Synthase 3 (OsMGD3) affects phosphate utilization and acquisition in rice. Journal of Experimental Botany. 73 (14), pp. 5033-5051. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erac192

A native promoter–gene fusion created by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genomic deletion offers a transgene-free method to drive oil accumulation in leaves

Bhunia, R. K., Menard, G. N. and Eastmond, P. J. 2022. A native promoter–gene fusion created by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genomic deletion offers a transgene-free method to drive oil accumulation in leaves. FEBS Letters. 596 (15), pp. 1865-1870. https://doi.org/10.1002/1873-3468.14365

Diverting phenylpropanoid pathway flux from sinapine to produce industrially useful 4-vinyl derivatives of hydroxycinnamic acids in Brassicaceous oilseeds

Menard, G. N., Langdon, M., Bhunia, R., Shankhapal, A., Noleto-Dias, C., Lomax, C., Ward, J. L., Kurup, S. and Eastmond, P. J. 2022. Diverting phenylpropanoid pathway flux from sinapine to produce industrially useful 4-vinyl derivatives of hydroxycinnamic acids in Brassicaceous oilseeds. Metabolic Engineering. 70, pp. 196-205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymben.2022.01.016

Production of human milk fat substitute by engineered strains of Yarrowia lipolytica

Bhutada, G., Menard, G. N., Bhunia, R. K., Hapeta, P. P., Ledesma-Amaro, R. and Eastmond, P. J. 2022. Production of human milk fat substitute by engineered strains of Yarrowia lipolytica. Metabolic Engineering Communications. 14 (June), p. e00192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mec.2022.e00192

Laboratory phenomics predicts field performance and identifies superior indica haplotypes for early seedling vigour in dry direct-seeded rice

Menard, G. N., Sandhu, N., Anderson, D., Catolos, M., Hassall, K. L., Eastmond, P. J., Kumar, A. and Kurup, S. 2021. Laboratory phenomics predicts field performance and identifies superior indica haplotypes for early seedling vigour in dry direct-seeded rice. Genomics. 113 (6), pp. 4227-4236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygeno.2021.11.006

Uncovering Trait Associations Resulting in Maximal Seed Yield in Winter and Spring Oilseed Rape

Siles-Suarez, L., Hassall, K. L., Sanchis-Gritsch, C., Eastmond, P. J. and Kurup, S. 2021. Uncovering Trait Associations Resulting in Maximal Seed Yield in Winter and Spring Oilseed Rape. Frontiers in Plant Science. 12 (6 September), p. 697576. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.697576

Allele mining in diverse accessions of tropical grasses to improve forage quality and reduce environmental impact

Hanley, S. J., Pellny, T. K., De Vega, J. J., Castiblanco, V., Arango, J., Eastmond, P. J., Heslop-Harrison, J. S. and Mitchell, R. A. C. 2021. Allele mining in diverse accessions of tropical grasses to improve forage quality and reduce environmental impact. Annals of Botany. 128 (5), pp. 627-637. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcab101

Production of the infant formula ingredient 1,3-olein-2-palmitin in Arabidopsis thaliana seeds

Eastmond, P. J., Van-Erp, H., Bryant, F. M., Martin-Moreno, J. and Michaelson, L. V. 2021. Production of the infant formula ingredient 1,3-olein-2-palmitin in Arabidopsis thaliana seeds. Metabolic Engineering. 67, pp. 67-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymben.2021.05.009

Down‐regulation of key genes involved in carbon metabolism in Medicago truncatula results in increased lipid accumulation in vegetative tissue

Wijekoon, C., Singer, S. D., Weselake, R. J., Petrie, J. R., Chen, G., Singh, S., Eastmond, P. J. and Acharya, S. N. 2020. Down‐regulation of key genes involved in carbon metabolism in Medicago truncatula results in increased lipid accumulation in vegetative tissue . Crop Science. 60 (4), pp. 1798-1808. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20124

Enhancement of total lipid production in vegetative tissues of alfalfa and sainfoin using chemical mutagenesis

Wijekoon, C. P., Singer, S. D., Weselake, R. J., Petrie, J. R., Singh, S., Jayawardhane, K. N., Shah, S., Chen, G., Eastmond, P. J. and Acharya, S. N. 2019. Enhancement of total lipid production in vegetative tissues of alfalfa and sainfoin using chemical mutagenesis. Crop Science. 60 (6), pp. 2990-3003. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20027

Big data from small tissue extraction of high-quality RNA for RNA-Sequencing from different oilseed Brassica seed tissues during seed development

Siles-Suarez, L., Eastmond, P. J. and Kurup, S. 2020. Big data from small tissue extraction of high-quality RNA for RNA-Sequencing from different oilseed Brassica seed tissues during seed development . Plant Methods. 16, p. 80. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13007-020-00626-0

Turning sugar into oil - making photosynthesis blind to feedback inhibition

Paul, M. J. and Eastmond, P. J. 2020. Turning sugar into oil - making photosynthesis blind to feedback inhibition. Journal of Experimental Botany. 71 (7), pp. 2216-2218. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erz504

DES2 is a fatty acid Delta 11 desaturase capable of synthesizing palmitvaccenic acid in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis

Cheeld, H., Bhutada, G., Beaudoin, F. and Eastmond, P. J. 2020. DES2 is a fatty acid Delta 11 desaturase capable of synthesizing palmitvaccenic acid in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. FEBS Letters. https://doi.org/10.1002/1873-3468.13762

Identification of a Δ11 desaturase from the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis

Cheeld, H., Bhutada, G., Beaudoin, F. and Eastmond, P. J. 2020. Identification of a Δ11 desaturase from the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.01.13.903815

Engineering the stereoisomeric structure of seed oil to mimic human milk fat

Van-Erp, H., Bryant, F. M., Martin-Moreno, J., Michaelson, L. V., Bhutada, G. and Eastmond, P. J. 2019. Engineering the stereoisomeric structure of seed oil to mimic human milk fat. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 116 (42), pp. 20947-20952. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1907915116

The impact of reducing fatty acid desaturation on the composition and thermal stability of rapeseed oil

Kaur, H., Wang, L., Stawniak, N., Sloan, R., Van-Erp, H., Eastmond, P. J. and Bancroft, I. 2019. The impact of reducing fatty acid desaturation on the composition and thermal stability of rapeseed oil . Plant Biotechnology Journal. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.13263

Basic LEUCINE ZIPPER TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR 67 transactivates DELAY OF GERMINATION 1 to establish primary seed dormancy in Arabidopsis

Bryant, F. M., Hughes, D. J., Hassani-Pak, K. and Eastmond, P. J. 2019. Basic LEUCINE ZIPPER TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR 67 transactivates DELAY OF GERMINATION 1 to establish primary seed dormancy in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00892

Natural variation in acyl editing is a determinant of seed storage oil composition

Menard, G. N., Bryant, F. M., Kelly, A. A., Craddock, C. P., Lavagi, I., Hassani-Pak, K., Kurup, S. and Eastmond, P. J. 2018. Natural variation in acyl editing is a determinant of seed storage oil composition. Scientific Reports. 8, p. 17346. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-35136-6

Awake1, an ABC-type transporter, reveals an essential role for Suberin in the control of seed dormancy

Fedi, F., O’neill, C. M., Menard, G., Trick, M., Dechirico, S., Corbineau, F., Bailly, C., Eastmond, P. J. and Penfield, S. 2017. Awake1, an ABC-type transporter, reveals an essential role for Suberin in the control of seed dormancy. Plant Physiology. 174 (1), pp. 276-283. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.16.01556

Engineering of tomato for the sustainable production of ketocarotenoids and its evaluation in aquaculture feed

Nogueira, M., Enfissi, E. M. A., Martínez Valenzuela, M. E., Menard, G. N., Driller, R. L., Eastmond, P. J., Schuch, W., Sandmann, G. and Fraser, P. D. 2017. Engineering of tomato for the sustainable production of ketocarotenoids and its evaluation in aquaculture feed. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 114 (41), pp. 10876-10881. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1708349114

Fatty acids in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are synthesized by the host plant

Luginbuehl, L. H., Menard, G. N., Kurup, S., Van-Erp, H., Radhakrishnan, G. V., Breakspear, A., Oldroyd, G. E. D. and Eastmond, P. J. 2017. Fatty acids in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are synthesized by the host plant. Science - AAAS. 356 (6343), pp. 1175-1178. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aan0081

Development of a statistical crop model to explain the relationship between seed yield and phenotypic diversity within the Brassica napus genepool

Bennett, E., Brignell, C., Carion, P. W. C., Cook, S. M., Eastmond, P. J., Teakle, G., Hammond, J. P., Love, C., King, G. J., Roberts, J. A. and Wagstaff, C. 2017. Development of a statistical crop model to explain the relationship between seed yield and phenotypic diversity within the Brassica napus genepool. Agronomy. 7 (2), p. 31. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy7020031

Genome wide analysis of fatty acid desaturation and its response to temperature

Menard, G. N., Martin-Moreno, J., Bryant, F. M., Munoz-Azcarate, O., Kelly, A. A., Hassani-Pak, K., Kurup, S. and Eastmond, P. J. 2017. Genome wide analysis of fatty acid desaturation and its response to temperature. Plant Physiology. 173 (3), pp. 1594-1605. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.16.01907

Step changes in leaf oil accumulation via iterative metabolic engineering

Vanhercke, T., Divi, Uday K., El Tahchy, A., Liu, Q., Mitchell, M., Taylor, M. C., Eastmond, P. J., Bryant, F., Mechanicos, A., Blundell, C., Zhi, Y., Belide, S., Shrestha, P., Zhou, X-R., Ral, J-P., White, R. G., Green, A., Singh, S. P. and Petrie, J. R. 2017. Step changes in leaf oil accumulation via iterative metabolic engineering. Metabolic Engineering. 39, pp. 237-246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymben.2016.12.007

Cyclin-dependent kinase activity enhances phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in Arabidopsis by repressing phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase activity

Craddock, C. P., Adams, N., Kroon, J. T. M., Bryant, F. M., Hussey, P. J., Kurup, S. and Eastmond, P. J. 2017. Cyclin-dependent kinase activity enhances phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in Arabidopsis by repressing phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase activity. The Plant Journal. 89 (1), pp. 3-14. https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.13321

ACYL-ACYL CARRIER PROTEIN DESATURASE2 and 3 are responsible for making omega-7 fatty acids in the Arabidopsis aleurone

Bryant, F. M., Munoz-Azcarate, O., Kelly, A. A., Beaudoin, F., Kurup, S. and Eastmond, P. J. 2016. ACYL-ACYL CARRIER PROTEIN DESATURASE2 and 3 are responsible for making omega-7 fatty acids in the Arabidopsis aleurone. Plant Physiology. 172 (1), pp. 154-162. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.16.00836

Expression of castor LPAT2 enhances ricinoleic acid content at the sn-2 position of triacylglycerols in lesquerella seed

Chen, G. Q., Van-Erp, H., Martin-Moreno, J., Johnson, K., Morales, E., Browse, J., Eastmond, P. J. and Lin, J-T. 2016. Expression of castor LPAT2 enhances ricinoleic acid content at the sn-2 position of triacylglycerols in lesquerella seed. International Journal Of Molecular Sciences. 17 (4), p. 507. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms17040507

Growing innovations for the bioeconomy

Karp, A., Beale, M. H., Beaudoin, F., Eastmond, P. J., Neal, A. L., Shield, I. F., Townsend, B. J. and Dobermann, A. 2015. Growing innovations for the bioeconomy. Nature Plants. 1, p. 15193. https://doi.org/10.1038/nplants.2015.193

The Arabidopsis thaliana RNA editing factor SLO2, which affects the mitochondrial electron transport chain, participates in multiple stress and hormone responses

Zhu, Q., Dugardeyn, J., Zhang, C., Muhlenbock, P., Eastmond, P. J., Valcke, R., De Coninck, B., Oden, S., Karampelias, M., Cammue, B. P. A., Prinsen, E. and Van Der Straeten, D. 2014. The Arabidopsis thaliana RNA editing factor SLO2, which affects the mitochondrial electron transport chain, participates in multiple stress and hormone responses. Molecular Plant. 7 (2), pp. 290-310. https://doi.org/10.1093/mp/sst102

Regulation of endomembrane biogenesis in arabidopsis by phospatidic acid hydrolase

Craddock, C. P., Adams, N., Bryant, F. M., Kurup, S. and Eastmond, P. J. 2015. Regulation of endomembrane biogenesis in arabidopsis by phospatidic acid hydrolase. Plant Signaling and Behavior. 10, p. e1065367. https://doi.org/10.1080/15592324.2015.1065367

Arabidopsis uses two gluconeogenic gateways for organic acids to fuel seedling establishment

Eastmond, P. J., Astley, H. M., Parsley, K., Aubry, S., Williams, B. P., Menard, G. N., Craddock, C. P., Nunes-Nesi, A., Fernie, A. R. and Hibberd, J. M. 2015. Arabidopsis uses two gluconeogenic gateways for organic acids to fuel seedling establishment. Nature Communications. 6, p. 6659. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms7659

PHOSPHATIDIC ACID PHOSPHOHYDROLASE regulates phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in Arabidopsis by phosphatidic acid-mediated activation of CTP: PHOSPHOCHOLINE CYTIDYLYLTRANSFERASE activity

Craddock, C. P., Adams, N., Bryant, F. M., Kurup, S. and Eastmond, P. J. 2015. PHOSPHATIDIC ACID PHOSPHOHYDROLASE regulates phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in Arabidopsis by phosphatidic acid-mediated activation of CTP: PHOSPHOCHOLINE CYTIDYLYLTRANSFERASE activity. The Plant Cell. 27, pp. 1251-1264. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.15.00037

Seed storage reserve analysis

Erp, H., Menard, G. and Eastmond, P. J. 2014. Seed storage reserve analysis. Bio-protocol. 4 (20), p. e1263. https://doi.org/10.21769/bioprotoc.1263

Biomass oil crops: more than a pipe dream?

Eastmond, P. J. 2014. Biomass oil crops: more than a pipe dream? Biofuels. 5 (2), pp. 99-101. https://doi.org/10.4155/BFS.13.77

Multigene engineering of triacylglycerol metabolism boosts seed oil content in Arabidopsis

Van-Erp, H., Kelly, A. A., Menard, G. N. and Eastmond, P. J. 2014. Multigene engineering of triacylglycerol metabolism boosts seed oil content in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology. 165, pp. 30-36. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.114.236430

bZIP67 regulates the omega-3 fatty acid content of Arabidopsis seed oil by activating FATTY ACID DESATURASE3

Mendes, A., Kelly, A. A., Van-Erp, H., Shaw, E., Powers, S. J., Kurup, S. and Eastmond, P. J. 2013. bZIP67 regulates the omega-3 fatty acid content of Arabidopsis seed oil by activating FATTY ACID DESATURASE3. The Plant Cell. 25, pp. 3104-3116. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.113.116343

The SUGAR-DEPENDENT1 lipase limits triacyglycerol accumulation in vegetative tissues of Arabidopsis

Kelly, A. A., Van-Erp, H., Quettier, A-L., Shaw, E., Menard, G. N., Kurup, S. and Eastmond, P. J. 2013. The SUGAR-DEPENDENT1 lipase limits triacyglycerol accumulation in vegetative tissues of Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology. 162, pp. 1282-1289. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.113.219840

Suppression of the SUGAR-DEPENDENT1 triacylglycerol lipase family during seed development enhances oil yield in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

Kelly, A. A., Shaw, E., Powers, S. J., Kurup, S. and Eastmond, P. J. 2013. Suppression of the SUGAR-DEPENDENT1 triacylglycerol lipase family during seed development enhances oil yield in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). Plant Biotechnology Journal. 11 (3), pp. 355-361. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.12021

The modification of plant oil composition via metabolic engineering - better nutrition by design

Haslam, R. P., Ruiz-Lopez, N., Eastmond, P. J., Moloney, M., Sayanova, O. V. and Napier, J. A. 2013. The modification of plant oil composition via metabolic engineering - better nutrition by design. Plant Biotechnology Journal. 11 (2), pp. 157-168. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.12012

Molecular characterization of the fatty alcohol oxidation pathway for wax-ester mobilization in germinated jojoba seeds

Rajangam, A. S., Gidda, S. K., Craddock, C., Mullen, R. T., Dyer, J. M. and Eastmond, P. J. 2013. Molecular characterization of the fatty alcohol oxidation pathway for wax-ester mobilization in germinated jojoba seeds. Plant Physiology. 161, pp. 72-80. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.112.208264

A common signaling process that promotes mycorrhizal and oomycete colonization of plants

Wang, E., Schornack, S., Marsh, J. F., Gobbato, E., Schwessinger, B., Eastmond, P. J., Schultze, M., Kamoun, S. and Oldroyd, G. E. D. 2012. A common signaling process that promotes mycorrhizal and oomycete colonization of plants. Current Biology. 22 (23), pp. 2242-2246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2012.09.043

Seed storage oil catabolism: a story of give and take

Theodoulou, F. L. and Eastmond, P. J. 2012. Seed storage oil catabolism: a story of give and take. Current Opinion in Plant Biology. 15 (3), pp. 322-328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2012.03.017

SLO2, a mitochondrial pentatricopeptide repeat protein affecting several RNA editing sites, is required for energy metabolism

Zhu, Q., Dugardeyn, J., Zhang, C., Takenaka, M., Kuhn, K., Craddock, C., Smalle, J., Karampelias, M., Denecke, J., Peters, J., Gerats, T., Brennicke, A., Eastmond, P. J., Meyer, E. H. and Van Der Straeten, D. 2012. SLO2, a mitochondrial pentatricopeptide repeat protein affecting several RNA editing sites, is required for energy metabolism. The Plant Journal. 71 (5), pp. 836-849. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-313X.2012.05036.x

Peter Eastmond

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