Annkatrin Rose

Dr. Annkatrin Rose is an Associate Professor of Plant Molecular Biology in the Department of Biology at Appalachian State University. Her research focuses on chloroplast coiled-coil proteins and their role in plant cell organization and function. She teaches courses in Botany, Genetics, Plant Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, and Current Topics.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Biology, University of Hamburg, Germany
• Diploma in Biochemistry, University of Hamburg, Germany

Dr. Rose's research centers on plant molecular biology, particularly the study of chloroplast coiled-coil proteins. She investigates how these proteins, which form fibers and scaffolds in cells, function in plants lacking muscle or nerve cells where most long coiled-coil structures are studied in animals. Her work explores the evolutionary significance of these proteins in chloroplasts, which evolved from endosymbiotic prokaryotes. Recent research has focused on the FLIP4 gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana, examining how gene duplication leads to functional divergence and specialization, with particular interest in the evolutionary origin of the thylakoid protein MFP1.

Scientific Awards:

• Third place for best undergraduate poster at Science in the Mountains Meeting

Dr. Rose actively mentors undergraduate and graduate students in her laboratory, guiding research on plant molecular mechanisms. Her lab utilizes techniques ranging from standard molecular and biochemical methods to confocal and electron microscopy, plant transformation, and photosynthesis measurements. She has secured funding for undergraduate research assistantships, providing opportunities for students to engage in summer research projects.

The Rose Lab at Appalachian State University focuses on understanding the function of chloroplast coiled-coil proteins using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model organism. Current projects investigate protein localization, protein-protein interactions, and the phenotypes of knock-out mutants to determine how these proteins contribute to chloroplast structure and function.