Lab is all registered and ready to go! (Final day of early bird today 🕐🐦.)

@aspbplantbiology.bsky.social · 11mo ago

In 2026, #PlantBio2026 is headed to Ottawa, Canada’s capital city! Known for its vibrant culture, walkable downtown, and summer beauty, it’s the perfect backdrop for plant science at its finest. 🌿 📅 Mark your calendars: July 18–22, 2026 #PlantScience

Newly out from my lab! Here, we described the utility & the metabolic impact of molecular transporters in engineered 🧬 yeast, producing the anti-hypertensive drug, ajmalicine. 💊@utscbiology.bsky.social @utsc.utoronto.ca www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Heterologous expression of CrMATE1 increases flux of intermediates in monoterpenoid indole alkaloid pathway

Catharanthus roseus is the source of many pharmacologically valuable monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs), yet their low abundance can often constrai…

sciencedirect.com

Overnight whole plasmid, whole genome, etc. DNA sequencing is now available @utsc.utoronto.ca. Look at our beautiful @flowgenomics.bsky.social dropbox 🇨🇦🧬

In our latest preprint we report the unexpected discovery of Epi-STR, an R-stereoselective ortholog of the S-selective canonical Strictosidine synthases (STRs). Found in the rather obscure plant Pogonopus specious. This work was led by my stellar student Clara Morweiser! #natprod #PlantScience

bioRxiv Biochemistry@biorxiv-biochem.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Discovery of a Plant Pictet-Spenglerase with R-Stereoselectivity https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.05.704076v1

We have 5 new undergrads working in the lab this semester - Camille, Gabriel, Eshal, and Dilaksha (Fanfan's team!) and Abinaya (working with Lorena). See their profiles here: www.dastmalchilab.com/lab/people

Our lab is attending Plant Bio 2026 in Ottawa! See you all July 18-22! @aspbofficial.bsky.social @cspbscbv.bsky.social

Protein–Protein Interactions Modulate a Key Branch Point in Monoterpene Indole Alkaloid Biosynthesis | ACS Chemical Biology pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....

Protein–Protein Interactions Modulate a Key Branch Point in Monoterpene Indole Alkaloid Biosynthesis

Biosynthetic pathways of specialized metabolites utilize protein–protein interactions (PPIs) to facilitate metabolic flux and sequester reactive intermediates. The monoterpene indole alkaloid pathway ...

pubs.acs.org

#books I read in 2025: Not as many strong recommendations to give this year. Vineland was a slog. Latronico's Perfection was a tasty palate cleanser.

Dastmalchi Lab 2025 / Holiday Party🎄

In 1996, almost thirty years ago, Stephan Clemens & Wolfgang Barz described a methylenedioxy bridge formation reaction, converting calycosin to pseudobaptigenin. Today, we have identified the enzyme catalyst from red clover! 🍀 @UTSC @UtscBiology www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...

Such a neat idea for a special collection! New insights / side projects, consider submitting here.

Olivia Wilkins Lab@oli-wilkins.bsky.social · 11mo ago

New @genomejournal.bsky.social special collection “Early Leads: Plant Biology Side Projects with Big Potential”. We’re looking for short, self-contained studies with big impact. Deadline July 31st, 2026. OA, no pub. fees, ECRs! Questions? Reach out to us (Olivia and @zoejolylopez.bsky.social)

Went for a run last week along the scenic Ma Moosh Ka Win Valley Trail @utsc.utoronto.ca -- that starts behind our lab and can be followed to the lake! -- and made a friend.

The Phytochemical Society of North America (PSNA) is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Arthur Neish Young Investigator Award and applications for the TPJ-PSNA Early Career Award! The deadline is January 30, 2026. Find the guideline at: www.psna-online.org/awards #PSNA #PlantMetabolism

Salicylic acid biosynthesis via the PAL pathway requires benzaldehyde synthase and a benzyl salicylate-specific esterase (Dawei Ma, Harley Gordon, Rashid Nazir, Jeremy E Wulff, C Peter Constabel) doi.org/10.1093/plce... #PlantScience @aspbofficial

Salicylic acid biosynthesis via the PAL pathway requires benzaldehyde synthase and a benzyl salicylate-specific esterase

Salicylic acid biosynthesis in seed plants requires the production of benzyl benzoate and benzyl salicylate, which is subsequently cleaved by an esterase.

doi.org

Iconic smokestacks / Andrews Building @utsc.utoronto.ca.

Interesting, rather than juglone, 2Z-decaprenol isolated as a strong allelochemical from Juglans mandshurica via bioassay-guided fractionation. pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Allelochemical from Leaves of Juglans mandshurica Maxim. And Its Transcriptomic Effects in Plants

Weeds have a significant effect on agricultural productivity; thus, sustainable herbicide alternatives are necessary. Inspired by natural processes where bioactive compounds from fallen leaves inhibit...

pubs.acs.org

I have tried and failed to finish reading László Krasznahorkai's Sátántangó on more than one occasion. Clearly #Nobel worthy.

The 2025 #CSPB_ERM conference website is now ONLINE! LINK: event.fourwaves.com/erm2025 Early registration: Oct. 24 Regular registration: Oct. 25-Nov. 12 Abstract deadline for oral/poster presentations: Oct. 24 Student/postdoc registration fees are heavily discounted. See you soon!

Canadian Society of Plant Biologists - Eastern Regional 2025 Meeting

Fourwaves - Canadian Society of Plant Biologists - Eastern Regional 2025 Meeting

event.fourwaves.com

Danve Castroverde@danvec.bsky.social · last yr.

SAVE THE DATE - Nov 29th, 2025 (Sat) CSPB Eastern Regional Meeting at Wilfrid Laurier University! @cspbscbv.bsky.social @laurierbiology.bsky.social Featuring outstanding scientists as Plenary Speakers - Dr. @edelplopez.bsky.social and Dr. Eliana Gonzales-Vigil! Registration details coming soon!

📢Announcement! The call for 𝐓𝐏𝐉 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 is now open! 🌟 It is designed to offer support and mentorship to researchers transitioning from post-doctoral scientists to principal investigators Info: 👉http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal/1365313x/homepage/TPJ-fellowships & in 🧵

Our new study in Nature Plants maps how "multi-tasking" enzymes in plants transfer nitrogen, a key step toward improving crop N use efficiency. 🌱 Big thanks to our collaborators from Max Planck, Hokkaido Univ, & MSU, and for support from @NSF and @DOE. Learn more: rdcu.be/eFOFN #PlantMetabolism

Mapping multi-substrate specificity of Arabidopsis aminotransferases

Nature Plants - Systematic characterization of Arabidopsis aminotransferase family enzymes uncovered many previously unrecognized activities and revealed their multi-substrate specificity, aspects...

rdcu.be

I'm here. New lab, new office. Back at @utoronto.ca where it all started (Class of 2029). Re-starting my research program on the gorgeous @utsc.utoronto.ca campus.