Professor Nick Smirnoff

About me:

My long term research interest is in the metabolism and functions of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in plants. My laboratory has discovered the biosynthetic pathway of ascorbate and more recently we are focussing on control of its synthesis and accumulation in relation to light and its role in photoprotection of photosynthesis. I am more generally interested in the roles of antioxidants and reactive oxygen species. Biochemical and molecular genetics approaches are used, focussing on Arabidopsis thaliana as well as algae and cyanobacteria. I am director of the Exeter Mass Spectrometry Facility wihch focusses on small molecule analysis. My current research focuses on the following areas.

• The functions of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants in plants. Currently, the focus is on the metabolism and functions of ascorbate (vitamin C) and on the production and functions of hydrogen peroxide.
• Plant and algal metabolism and metabolomics. We are developing LC-MS and GC-MS metabolite profiling methods and mass spectral databases for plants and algae. Imaging plant chemical composition and metabolism using Raman microscopy.
• High temperature acclimation and adaptation in algae and cyanobacteria.

The main focus is on the synthesis and function of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and other antioxidants in plants, and the functions of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The lab also has wider interests in plant metabolism and responses to environmental stresses, particularly the involvement of ROS.

1981: PhD in Physiological Ecology, University of St Andrews
1978: BSc Botany, University of Bristol

2006-present: Professor of Plant Biochemistry, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter
2001-2006: Reader in Plant Biochemistry, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter
1998-2001: Senior Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Exeter
1984-1998: Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Exeter
1982-1984: Birkbeck College, University of London
1984: Agricultural and Food Research Council Wain Fellow