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Give      University of Florida

Horticultural Sciences

Horticultural Sciences

Dr. Gilles J. Basset

Associate Professor

Mailing Address:
Fifield Hall
2550 Hull Road
PO Box 110690
Gainesville, Florida 32611

Office: 1109 Fifield Hall
Phone: (352) 273-4808
E-mail: gbasset@ufl.edu

  • Areas of Research

    Biochemical Genetics/Metabolic biochemistry

    Research in our laboratory aims at understanding how plants synthesize redox cofactors that are vital for photosynthesis and respiration. We apply the gained knowledge to enhance the bioenergetics capabilities and nutritional value of plants using synthetic biology.

  • Teaching Responsibilities
    • PCB6528 - Plant Cell and Developmental Biology
  • Educational Background
    • PhD, University of Bordeaux, France (2000).
    • Master of Science Degree in Structural Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Bordeaux, France (1995)
    • Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry and Biology, University of Bordeaux, France (1994)
  • Work Experience
    • Associate Professor; Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2013)
    • Assistant Professor; Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2007)
    • Chargé de Recherche (Researcher)- National Institute for Agronomic Research (INRA), France (2005)
    • Armament engineer (Mandatory military service)- Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), Paris-Saclay, France (2000)
  • Honors and Awards
    • Innovations of the Year Award; UF Innovate-Technology Licensing (2023)
    • Dedication and Loyal Service Award, Plant Molecular & Cellular Biology Graduate Program (2021)
    • Director, UF Plant Molecular & Cellular Biology Graduate Program (2019-2021)
    • Graduate Coordinator, UF Plant Molecular & Cellular Biology Graduate Program (2017-2019)
    • Member of the Program Committee of the American Society of Plant Biologists (2016-2020)
    • National Science Foundation CAREER award (2012)
    • Junior Faculty Recognition for Excellence in Research; Branham Endowment Fund; University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2011)
    • Layman Award, University of Nebaska-Lincoln (2009)
    • Ministry of Research and Technology Fellow, France, (1996)
  • Program Personnel
    • Gabriella Dickinson (PhD Student)
    • Hailey Maurer (Undergraduate Student)
    • Katherine Grissett (Undergraduate Student)
    • Kristin Roy (Undergraduate Student)
    • Zhaniya Batyrshina (Postdoctoral Research Associate)
    • Lauren Stutts (Postdoctoral Research Associate)
    • Scott Latimer (Postdoctoral Research Associate)

Selected Publications

Authors Year Title / Description Publication
Stutts L, Latimer S, Batyrshina Z, Dickinson G, Alborn H, Block AK, Basset GJ. 2023 The evolution of strictly monofunctional naphthoquinol C-methyltransferases is vital in cyanobacteria and plastids Plant Cell. 35 (10), 3686-3696
Stutts L, Latimer S, Basset GJ. 2023 Development and application of synthetic inhibitors of photosynthesis US Patent 63/503,377 (Pending)
Berger A, Latimer S, Stutts LR, Soubeyrand E, Block AK, Basset GJ. 2022 Kaempferol as a precursor for ubiquinone (coenzyme Q) biosynthesis: An atypical node between specialized metabolism and primary metabolism Current Opinion in Plant Biology 66, 102165.
Tang HV, Berryman DL, Mendoza J, Yactayo-Chang JP, Li QB, Christensen SA, Hunter CT, Best N, Soubeyrand E, Akhtar TA, Basset GJ, Block AK. 2022 Dedicated farnesyl diphosphate synthases circumvent isoprenoid-derived growth-defense tradeoffs in Zea mays The Plant Journal 112(1), 207-220.
Latimer S, Keene SA, Stutts LR, Berger A, Bernert AC, Soubeyrand E, Wright J, Clarke CF, Block AK, Colquhoun TA, Elowsky C, Christensen A, Wilson MA, Basset GJ. 2021 A dedicated flavin-dependent monooxygenase catalyzes the hydroxylation of demethoxyubiquinone into ubiquinone (coenzyme Q) in Arabidopsis Journal of Biological Chemistry 297(5), 101283
Soubeyrand E, Latimer S, Bernert AC, Keene SA, Johnson TS, Shin D, Block AK, Colquhoun TA, Schäffner AR, Kim J, Basset GJ. 2021 3-O-glycosylation of kaempferol restricts the supply of the benzenoid precursor of ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q) in Arabidopsis thaliana. Phytochemistry 186, 112738
Fernández-Del-Río L, Soubeyrand E, Basset GJ, Clarke CF. 2020 Metabolism of the Flavonol Kaempferol in Kidney Cells Liberates the B-ring to Enter Coenzyme Q Biosynthesis Molecules 25 (13), 2955
Soubeyrand E, Kelly M, Keene SA, Bernert AC, Latimer S, Johnson TS, Elowsky C, Colquhoun TA, Block AK, Basset GJ.   2019 Arabidopsis 4-COUMAROYL-COA LIGASE 8 contributes to the biosynthesis of the benzenoid ring of coenzyme Q in peroxisomes.   Biochemical Journal 476, 3521-3532.  
Bernert AC, Jacobs EJ, Reinl SR, Choi CCY, Roberts Buceta PM, Culver JC, Goodspeed CR, Bradley MC, Clarke CF, Basset GJ, Shepherd JN.   2019 Recombinant RquA catalyzes the in vivo conversion of ubiquinone to rhodoquinone in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biochim. Biophys. Acta Mol. Cell Biol. Lipids. 1864, 1226-1234. 
Strenkert D, Schmollinger S, Gallaher SD, Salomé PA, Purvine SO, Nicora CD, Mettler-Altmann T, Soubeyrand E, Weber APM, Lipton MS, Basset GJ, Merchant SS.   2019 Multiomics resolution of molecular events during a day in the life of Chlamydomonas. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 116, 2374-2383. 
Soubeyrand E, Johnson TS, Latimer S, Block A, Kim J, Colquhoun TA, Butelli E, Martin C, Wilson MA, Basset GJ. 2018 The Peroxidative Cleavage of Kaempferol Contributes to the Biosynthesis of the Benzenoid Moiety of Ubiquinone in Plants. Plant Cell 30, 2910-2921. 
Latimer S, Li Y, Nguyen TTH, Soubeyrand E, Fatihi A, Elowsky CG, Block A, Pichersky E, Basset GJ.   2018  Metabolic reconstructions identify plant 3-methylglutaconyl-CoA hydratase that is crucial for branched-chain amino acid catabolism in mitochondria.   Plant Journal 95, 358-370. 
Wittkopp TM, Schmollinger S, Saroussi S, Hu W, Zhang W, Fan Q, Gallaher SD, Leonard MT, Soubeyrand E, Basset GJ, Merchant SS, Grossman AR, Duanmu D, Lagarias JC.  2017 Bilin-Dependent Photoacclimation in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Plant Cell. 29, 2711-2726. 
Basset GJ, Latimer S, Fatihi, A, Soubeyrand, E, Block A.  2017  Phylloquinone (vitamin K1): Occurrence, biosynthesis and functions.  Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry 17, 1028-1038. 
Strenkert D, Limso CA, Fatihi A, Schmollinger S, Basset GJ, Merchant SS.   2016 Genetically programmed changes in photosynthetic cofactor metabolism in copper-deficient Chlamydomonas. Journal of Biological Chemistry 291, 19118-19131. 
Fatihi A, Latimer S, Schmollinger S, Block A, Dussault PH, Vermaas WF, Merchant SS, Basset GJ.  2015 A dedicated type II NADPH dehydrogenase performs the penultimate step in the biosynthesis of vitamin K1 in Synechocystis and Arabidopsis.   The Plant Cell 27, 1730-1741. 
Block A, Widhalm JR, Fatihi A, Cahoon RE, Wamboldt Y, Elowsky C, Mackenzie SA, Cahoon EB, Chapple C, Dudareva N, Basset GJ.  2014 The origin and biosynthesis of the benzenoid moiety of ubiquinone (coenzyme Q) in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell 26, 1938-1948. 
Block A, Fristedt R, Rogers S, Kumar, J, Barnes B, Barnes J, Elowsky CG, Wamboldt Y, Mackenzie SA, Redding K, Merchant SS, Basset GJ.  2013 Functional modeling identifies paralogous solanesyl diphosphate synthases that assemble the side chain of plastoquinone-9 in plastids.  Journal of Biological Chemistry 288, 27594-27606. 
Furt F, Allen WJ, Widhalm JR, Madzelan P, Rizzo RC, Basset GJ, Wilson MA.  2013 Functional convergence of structurally distinct thioesterases from cyanobacteria and plants involved in phylloquinone biosynthesis. Acta Crystallographica D 69,1876-1888. 
Widhalm JR, Ducluzeau AL, Buller NE, Elowsky CG, Olsen LJ, Basset GJ.  2012 Phylloquinone (vitamin K1) biosynthesis in plants: two peroxisomal thioesterases of Lactobacillales origin hydrolyze 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoyl-CoA.   The Plant Journal 71, 205-215. 
Fitzpatrick TB, Basset GJ, Borel P, Carrari F, DellaPenna D, Fraser PD, Hellman H, Osorio-Algar S, Rothan C, Valpuesta V, Caris-Veyrat C, Fernie AR.  2012  Vitamin deficiency: Can plant science help?   The Plant Cell 24, 395-414. 
Ducluzeau AL, Wamboldt Y, Elowsky CG, Mackenzie SA, Schuurink RC, Basset GJ.  2012 Gene network reconstruction identifies the authentic trans-prenyl diphosphate synthase that makes the solanesyl moiety of ubiquinone-9 in Arabidopsis.   The Plant Journal 69, 366-375. 
Van Oostende C, Widhalm JR, Furt F, Ducluzeau AL, Basset GJ.  2011 Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone): function, enzymes and genes.   Advances in Botanical Research 59, 229-261. 
Xu YZ, Arrieta-Montiel MP, Wamboldt YJ, Virdi K, de Paula WBM, Widhalm JR, Basset GJ, Davila JI, Elthon TE, Elowsky CG, Sato SJ, Clemente TE, Mackenzie SA.  2011 MSH1 is a multi-functional protein in plants that alters mitochondrial and plastid properties and response to high light.   The Plant Cell 23, 3428-3441. 
Furt F, van Oostende C, Widhalm JR, Dale MA, Wertz J, Basset GJ.  2010  A bimodular oxidoreductase mediates the specific reduction of phylloquinone (vitamin K1) in chloroplasts.   The Plant Journal 64, 38-46. 
Widhalm JR, van Oostende C, Furt F, Basset GJ.  2009  A dedicated thioesterase of the Hotdog-fold family is required for the biosynthesis of the naphthoquinone ring of vitamin K1.   Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA 106, 5599-5603.