Affiliate Professor
Not accepting new graduate students
Fields of Interest
Biography
In Fall 2019 Torii Lab at HHMI is relocating to UT Austin, where Keiko Torii has accepted a position as Johnson & Johnson Centennial Professor of Plant Cell Biology.
Keiko Torii is a founding member of the Institute of Transformative BioMolecules at Nagoya University, one of the World Premier Research Institute in Japan.
The goal of research in the Torii lab is to elucidate the molecular and cellular bases of the functional tissue patterning, stem cell maintenance and differentitation, and cell-fate specification in plants.
We discovered that three receptor kinases that regulate cell proliferation and organ growth together control stomatal patterning. Stomata are turgor-driven valves on the surface of land plants. Stomata play critical roles for gas exchange between plants and atmosphere for carbon fixation, respiration, and transpiration (i.e. water movement). Our latest breakthrough includes the identification of master regulatory genes and ligand-receptor pairs that direct asymmetric cell division and stomatal differentiation. Our research opens a door to understand the fundamental genetic and cellular signaling mechanisms that govern two critical aspects of plant functions, organ growth and stomatal development.
Professional Preparation
B.S. (1987), M.S. (1989), Ph.D. (1993): Biology (major in Biochemistry and Biophysics). Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan
Positions
Oversea Principal Investigator and Visiting Professor, Institute of Transformative Biomolecules, Nagoya University, Japan 2013-
Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute 2011-
Endowed Distinguised Professor of Biology 2011-2019
Investigator, PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency 2008-2012
Professor, Department of Biology, University of Washington 2009-2019
Associate Professor, Department of Biology, University of Washington 2005
Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, University of Washington 2002
Affiliate Faculty, University of Washington Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine 2006-
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Selected Research
- Plant synthetic biology for molecular engineering of signalling and development, Torii Keiko U and Nemhauser Jennifer L., Nature Plants, Feb-03-2016, Volume 2, Issue 3, p.16010 (2016)
- 50 years of Arabidopsis research: highlights and future directions, Torii Keiko U, Somerville Chris, Alonso Jose, Bergmann Dominique, Brkljacic Jelena, Browse John, Chapple Clint, Colot Vincent, Cutler Sean, Dangl Jeff, Ehrhardt David, Grotewold Erich, Meyerowitz Elliot, Nemhauser Jennifer, Nordborg Magnus, Pikaard Craig, Shanklin John, Stitt Mark, Waese Jamie, Wagner Doris, McCourt Peter, Provart Nicholas J., Assmann Sarah M., Brady Siobhan M., Friesner Joanna D., and Frommer Wolf B., New Phytologist, Jan-02-2016, Volume 209, Issue 3, p.921 - 944 (2016)
- Auxin signaling modules regulate maize inflorescence architecture., Shpak Elena D, Lakeman Michael B, Torii Keiko U, Meyer Neva P, Trinh Kien, Storm Daniel R, Takemaru Ken-Ichi, Yamaguchi Shinji, Lee Young Sik, Zhang Yang, and Carthew Richard W, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 10/2015, Volume 112, Issue 43 (2015)
- Arabidopsis homeodomain-leucine zipper IV proteins promote stomatal development and ectopically induce stomata beyond the epidermis, Torii Keiko U, Peterson Kylee M, Kanaoka Masahiro M, Horst Robin J, Shyu Christine, Burr Christian A, Omae Minami, and Sato Yutaka, Development (Cambridge, England), 03/2013, Volume 140 (2013)
- Long-term, High-resolution Confocal Time Lapse Imaging of Arabidopsis Cotyledon Epidermis during Germination, Torii Keiko U and Peterson Kylee M, The Journal of Visualized Experiments, 12/2012, Issue 70 (2012)
- Regulation of inflorescence architecture by intertissue layer ligand-receptor communication between endodermis and phloem., Torii Keiko U, Kajita Ryoko, Kakimoto Tatsuo, Lee Jin Suk, Horst Robin J, Uchida Naoyuki, Lai Hung-Hsueh, and Tasaka Masao, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2012 Apr 17, Volume 109, Issue 16, p.6337-42 (2012)
- Mechanisms of stomatal development., Torii Keiko U and Pillitteri Lynn Jo, Annual review of plant biology, 2012 Jun 2, Volume 63, p.591-614 (2012)
- Direct interaction of ligand-receptor pairs specifying stomatal patterning., Torii Keiko U, Lee Jin Suk, Kanaoka Masahiro M, Kuroha Takeshi, Hnilova Marketa, Khatayevich Dmitriy, McAbee Jessica M, Sarikaya Mehmet, and Tamerler Candan, Genes & development, 2012 Jan 12 (2012)
- The presence of multiple introns is essential for ERECTA expression in Arabidopsis., Shpak Elena D, Torii Keiko U, Karve Rucha, Liu Wusheng, and Willet Spencer G, RNA , 2011 Oct, Volume 17, Issue 10, p.1907-21 (2011)
- Molecular profiling of stomatal meristemoids reveals new component of asymmetric cell division and commonalities among stem cell populations in Arabidopsis., Torii Keiko U, Peterson Kylee M, Pillitteri Lynn Jo, and Horst Robin J, Plant Cell, 2011 Sep, Volume 23, Issue 9, p.3260-75 (2011)
- Molecular Profiling of Stomatal Meristemoids Reveals New Component of Asymmetric Cell Division and Commonalities among Stem Cell Populations in Arabidopsis, Torii Keiko U, Pillitteri Lynn Jo*, Peterson Kylee M *, and Horst Robin J *, The Plant Cell, 09/2011, Volume 23, Issue 9 (2011)
- FERONIA as an upstream receptor kinase for polar cell growth in plants., Torii Keiko U and Kanaoka Masahiro M, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2010 Oct 12, Volume 107, Issue 41, p.17461-2 (2010)
- Dysregulation of cell-to-cell connectivity and stomatal patterning by loss-of-function mutation in Arabidopsis chorus (glucan synthase-like 8), Torii Keiko U, Peterson Kylee M, Guseman Jessica M, Lee Jin Suk, Bogenschutz Naomi L, Virata Rebecca E, Xie Bo, Kanaoka Masahiro M, and Hong Zonglie, Development (Cambridge, England), 05/2010, Volume 137, Issue 10, p.1731-41 (2010)
- Dysregulation of cell-to-cell connectivity and stomatal patterning by loss-of-function mutation in Arabidopsis chorus (glucan synthase-like 8)., Torii Keiko U, Peterson Kylee M, Guseman Jessica M, Lee Jin Suk, Bogenschutz Naomi L, Virata Rebecca E, Xie Bo, Kanaoka Masahiro M, and Hong Zonglie, Development (Cambridge, England), 2010 May, Volume 137, Issue 10, p.1731-41 (2010)
- Out of the Mouths of Plants: The Molecular Basis of the Evolution and Diversity of Stomatal Development, Torii Keiko U, Peterson Kylee M, and Rychel Amanda L, Plant Cell, 02/2010, Volume 22, Issue 2 (2010)
- Plant Twitter: ligands under 140 amino acids enforcing stomatal patterning, Torii Keiko U, Peterson Kylee M, and Rychel Amanda L, Journal of Plant Research, 05/2010, Volume 123, Issue 3 (2010)
- Ethylene-induced hyponastic growth in Arabidopsis thaliana is controlled by ERECTA, Torii K U, van Zanten M, Basten Snoek L, van Eck-Stouten E, Proveniers M C, Voesenek L A, Peeters A J, and Millenaar F F, Plant J, 2010, Volume 61, Issue 1, p.83-95 (2010)
- Dysregulation of cell-to-cell connectivity and stomatal patterning by loss-of-function mutation in Arabidopsis chorus (glucan synthase-like 8), Torii K U, Guseman J M, Lee J S, Bogenschutz N L, Peterson K M, Virata R E, Xie B, Kanaoka M M, and Hong Z, Development, 2010, Volume 137, Issue 10, p.1731-41 (2010)
- Out of the mouths of plants: the molecular basis of the evolution and diversity of stomatal development, Rychel A L, Torii K U, and Peterson K M, Plant Cell, 2010, Volume 22, Issue 2, p.296-306 (2010)
- Epidermal Cell Density is Autoregulated via a Secretory Peptide, EPIDERMAL PATTERNING FACTOR 2, in Arabidopsis Leaves, Torii Keiko U, Peterson Kylee M, Hara Kenta, Yokoo Toshiya, Kajita Ryoko, Onishi Takaaki, Yahata Saiko, and Kakimoto Tatsuo, Plant & Cell Physiology, 06/2009, Volume 50, Issue 6 (2009)
- Epidermal cell density is autoregulated via a secretory peptide, EPIDERMAL PATTERNING FACTOR 2 in Arabidopsis leaves, Torii K U, Peterson K M, Hara K, Kajita R, Kakimoto T, Yokoo T, Onishi T, and Yahata S, Plant Cell Physiol, 2009, Volume 50, Issue 6, p.1019-31 (2009)
- The bHLH protein, MUTE, controls differentiation of stomata and the hydathode pore in Arabidopsis, Torii K U, Bogenschutz N L, and Pillitteri L J, Plant Cell Physiol, 2008, Volume 49, Issue 6, p.934-43 (2008)
- SCREAM/ICE1 and SCREAM2 specify three cell-state transitional steps leading to arabidopsis stomatal differentiation, Torii K U, Bogenschutz N L, Kanaoka M M, Pillitteri L J, Fujii H, Yoshida Y, Takabayashi J, and Zhu J K, Plant Cell, 2008, Volume 20, Issue 7, p.1775-85 (2008)
- Haploinsufficiency after successive loss of signaling reveals a role for ERECTA-family genes in Arabidopsis ovule development, Bemis S M, Torii K U, Pillitteri L J, and Shpak E D, Development, 2007, Volume 134, Issue 17, p.3099-109 (2007)
- Termination of asymmetric cell division and differentiation of stomata, Torii K U, Bogenschutz N L, Pillitteri L J, and Sloan D B, Nature, 2007, Volume 445, Issue 7127, p.501-5 (2007)
- Breaking the silence: three bHLH proteins direct cell-fate decisions during stomatal development, Torii K U and Pillitteri L J, Bioessays, 2007, Volume 29, Issue 9, p.861-70 (2007)
- The secretory peptide gene EPF1 enforces the stomatal one-cell-spacing rule, Torii K U, Hara K, Kajita R, Bergmann D C, and Kakimoto T, Genes Dev, 2007, Volume 21, Issue 14, p.1720-5 (2007)
- Autonomy of cell proliferation and developmental programs during Arabidopsis aboveground organ morphogenesis, Bemis S M and Torii K U, Dev Biol, 2007, Volume 304, Issue 1, p.367-81 (2007)
- Interaction of auxin and ERECTA in elaborating Arabidopsis inflorescence architecture revealed by the activation tagging of a new member of the YUCCA family putative flavin monooxygenases, Bemis S M, Torii K U, Hill E J, Woodward C, Sawa S, and Koshiba T, Plant Physiol, 2005, Volume 139, Issue 1, p.192-203 (2005)
- Stomatal patterning and differentiation by synergistic interactions of receptor kinases, Torii K U, Pillitteri L J, Shpak E D, and McAbee J M, Science, 2005, Volume 309, Issue 5732, p.290-3 (2005)
- Synergistic interaction of three ERECTA-family receptor-like kinases controls Arabidopsis organ growth and flower development by promoting cell proliferation, Torii K U, Shpak E D, Berthiaume C T, and Hill E J, Development, 2004, Volume 131, Issue 7, p.1491-501 (2004)
- Leucine-rich repeat receptor kinases in plants: structure, function, and signal transduction pathways, Torii K U, Int Rev Cytol, 2004, Volume 234, p.1-46 (2004)
- Dominant-negative receptor uncovers redundancy in the Arabidopsis ERECTA Leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase signaling pathway that regulates organ shape, Torii K U, Shpak E D, and Lakeman M B, Plant Cell, 2003, Volume 15, Issue 5, p.1095-110 (2003)
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