Barbara Demmig-Adams

Professor

barbara.demmig-adams@colorado.edu
303-492-5541
Ramaley N434
Demmig-Adams Lab

Ph.D., Universität Würzburg (Germany), 1984

Research Interests

1) Plant Physiological Ecology: We integrate the ecology, physiology, and anatomy of plants. A unifying theme of our studies is the question of how plants survive and thrive in their natural environment and what mechanisms and genes are responsible for the acclimation and adaptation of plants to extreme environmental conditions. We compare and contrast these characteristics among plant species with different growth patterns and acclimation strategies. One focus of our work is the role of plant carotenoids.

2) Human diet-gene interactions: I sponsor undergraduate independent literature research in this area that frequently leads to publication of student-authored comprehensive reviews for audiences of clinicians, nutritionists and/or teachers.

Recent Publications

MACCARONE M, BARI M, GASPERI V, DEMMIG-ADAMS B , 2005. The power of phytochemicals: The photoreceptor zeaxanthin also kills neuroblastoms cells. Anticancer Research 25, 3767-3772.
( Here in PDF format )

AMIARD VSE, MUEH KE, DEMMIG-ADAMS B , EBBERT V, TURGEON R, ADAMS WW III, 2005. Anatomical and photosynthetic acclimation to light environment in species with differing mechanisms of phloem loading. PNAS 102 (36), 12968-12973.

EBBERT V, ADAMS WW III, MATTOO AK, SOKOLENKO A, DEMMIG-ADAMS B, 2005. Upregulation of a PSII core protein phosphatase inhibitor and sustained D1 phosphorylation in zeaxanthin-retaining, photoinhibited needles of overwintering Douglas fir. Plant, Cell and Environment 28 (2), 232-240.

HERDER R, DEMMIG-ADAMS B, 2004. The power of a balanced diet and lifestyle in preventing cardiovascular disease. Nutrition in Clinical Care 7(2), 46-55.

ADAMS WW III, ZARTER CR, EBBERT V, DEMMIG-ADAMS B, 2004. Photoprotective Strategies of overwintering evergreens. BioScience 54, 41-49.

ADAMS WW III, ROSENSTIEL TN, DEMMIG-ADAMS B, EBBERT V, BRIGHTWELL AK, 2002. Photosynthesis and photoprotection in overwintering plants. Plant Biology 4: 545-557

DEMMIG-ADAMS B, WW ADAMS III, 2002. Antioxidants in photosynthesis and human nutrition. Science 298, 2149-2153