By Walter P. Suza, George Washington Carver Endowed Chair and adjunct associate professor of agronomy, ISU


Project Summary

Sterols are precursors to various signaling molecules, including steroid hormones in mammals and brassinosteroids in plants. Plants produce several types of sterols, such as campesterol, sitosterol, stigmasterol, and cholesterol. In mammals, cholesterol functions as a signaling molecule and plays a crucial role in early vertebrate development. Additionally, the interaction between sterols and phospholipids helps maintain plasma membrane fluidity and permeability, especially under stress conditions. This research aims to uncover the specific roles of individual sterols in soybean growth and development. By identifying the genes responsible for producing beneficial sterols, the findings will support strategies to develop soybeans with altered sterol compositions. Over time, this work could lead to soybean varieties with enhanced sterol content, offering improved stress adaptation and greater economic value. Integrating this research with the George Washington Carver Future Hunger Fighters High School Outreach Program provides Iowa’s youth with firsthand experience in molecular biology research, centered on a crop of global significance.

(2-year project funded fall 2024)