Primary Research Area:

Biomedical Engineering including Microscopy

Research Interests:

Imaging, signal transduction and the cytoskeleton. The study of cell motility and the cytoskeleton and their relations to signal transduction in plant cells. The development of better video imaging methods.

Education:

BA in Zoology, University of Wisconsin
MS in Botany, University of Maryland
PhD in Plant Physiology, University of Maryland
PostDoc in Biology, State University of New York at Albany

About Dr. Nina S. Allen:

I am Director of the Cellular and Molecular Imaging Facility (CMIF) located in the Botany Department at NCSU. This facility houses a number of microscopes including a Leica confocal laser scanning microscope. I have a long-standing interest in further improving methods of electronic light microscopy. We have developed a new method, Polarization Modulation DIC and we will continue to further test and develop the polarization modulation microscope as well as any other microscope improvements we find necessary in order to record dynamic events in living cells.

More recently, we have become interested in developing biosensors in collaboration with Professors in Engineering and Physics at NCSU. The eventual goal is to develop very small sensors that can be placed next to or in cells to measure a number of parameters.

Recent Publications:

1. N.Strömgren Allen P. Chattaraj, D. Collings, and E. Johannes. 2003.
   Gravisensing: Ionic Responses, Cytoskeleton and amyloplast behavior.
   Advances in Space Science. Res. 32;163-167.
2. Ravisha R. Weerasinghe, David A. Collings, Eva Johannes, Nina Strömgren
   Allen. 2003. The distributional changes and role of microtubules in Nod
   factor challenged Medicago sativa root hairs. Planta 218:276-287.
3. Katherine A. Turner, Tim L. Sit, Anton S. Callawayc, Nina S. Allen, Steven
   A. Lommel. 2004. Red Clover Necrotic Mosaic Virus Replication Proteins
   Accumulate at the Endoplasmic Reticulum. Virology . April issue. Cover
   photo.
4. Weerasinghe R, Bird DM, Allen N.S. 2005. Root-knot nematodes and bacterial
   Nod factors elicit common signal transduction events in Lotus japonicus root
   hair cells. PNAS 102:2147.
5. Vincent P., M. Chua, F. Nogue, A. Fairbrother, H. Mekheel, Y.Xu, N. Allen,
   T. Bibikova, S. Gilroy, V. A. Bankaitis. 2005. A Sec14p-nodulin-domain
   phosphatidylinositol transfer protein polarizes membrane growth of
   Arabidopsis root hairs. J. Cell Bio. 168: 801-812.
6. Ravisha R. Weerasinghe, David A. Collings, Eva Johannes, Nina Strömgren Allen. 2003. The distributional changes and role of microtubules in Nod factor challenged Medicago sativa root hairs. Planta 218: 276-287
7. Johannes, E,Collings, DA, Rink JC, Allen, NS. 2001. Cytoplasmic pH dynamics in Zea mays pulvinal cells induced by gravity vector changes. Plant Physiology (In press).
8. Allen, N.S., M.N. Bennett, D.N. Cox, A. Shipley, D.W. Ehrhardt, S.R. Long. 1994. Effects of Nod Factors on Alfalfa Root Hair Ca++ and H+ Currents and on Cytoskeletal Behavior. In Advances in Molecular Genetics of Plant-Microbe Interactions. Vol. 3. M.J. Daniels, J.A. Downie, and A.E. Osbourn (eds.) Kluwer Academic, Netherlands.
9. Collings, D.A., Asada,T.A., Allen,N.S and Shibaoka,S. 1998. Plasma membrane- associated actin in tobacco BY-2 cells: evidence for interaction with microtubules. Plant Physiol.118:917-928.
10. Collings,D.A., Winter,H., Wyatt,S.E. and Allen,N.S. 1998. Growth dynamics and cytoskeleton organization during stem maturation and gravity-induced stem bending in Zea mays L. Planta 207:246-258.
11. Allen, R.D. and N.S. Allen. 1983. Video-enhanced microscopy with a computer frame memory. Jour. of Microscopy. 129:3-18.
12. Holzwarth, G., Webb, S.J., Kubinski, D.J., N.S. Allen. 1997. Improving DIC Microscopy with Polarization Modulation. Jour. of Microscopy 188:249-254.
13. Collings, D.A., Asada,T.A., Allen,N.S and Shibaoka,S. 1998. Plasma membrane-associated actin in tobacco BY-2 cells: evidence for interaction with microtubules. Plant Physiol.118:917-928.
14. Collings,D.A., Winter,H., Wyatt,S.E. and Allen,N.S. 1998. Growth dynamics and cytoskeleton organization during stem maturation and gravity-induced stem bending in Zea mays L. Planta 207:246-258.
15. Nancy L. Jones, Nina S. Allen, Mark C. Willingham, and Jon C. Lewis. 1999. Modified LDLs induce and bind to membrane ruffles on macrophages. The AnatomicalRecord 255:44-56.
16. BioTechniques 26:1125-1132.(with cover photo voted best cover of 1999).
17. Scott, A.C., S. Wyatt, P. Tsou, N. Robertson, and N.S. Allen. 1999. A model system for plant cell biology: GFP imaging in living onion epidermal cells.
18. Scott, A.C., and N.S. Allen. 1999. Changes in cytosolic pH within Arabidopsis Root Columella Cells Play a Key Role in the Early Signaling Pathway for Root Gravitropism. Plant Physiol 121:1291-98.
19. Silver I, Smyth TJ, Moxley DF, Carter TE, Allen NS, Rufty, TW. 2000. Aluminum Accumulation at Nuclei of Cells in the Root Tip: Fluorescence Detection Using Lumogallion and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy. Plant Phys 123:543-552.
20. Collings, D.A. and Allen, N.S. (2000) Cortical actin interacts with the plasma membrane and microtubules. In: "Actin: A Dynamic Framework For Multiple Plant Cell Functions." eds Baluska F, Barlow, PW, Staiger CJ &Volkmann D. Kluwer pp. 145-163.
21. Collings DA, Carter, CN, Rink JC, Scott, AC, Wyatt, SE, Allen, NS. 2000. Plant Nuclei contain Extensive Cytoplasmic Grooves and Invaginations. Plant Cell: 12:2425-2440.
22. Collings DA, Zsuppan, G, Allen, NS, Elison B. Blancaflor. 2001. Demonstration of prominent actin filaments in the root columella. Planta 212:392-403.
23. Johannes, E.; Collings, DA; Rink, JC; Allen, NS. 2001. Cytoplasmic pH dynamics in Zea mays cells induced by gravity vector changes. Plant Phys: 127:119-130.
24. Johannes E, Collings DA, Rink JC, Allen NS. 2001. Cytoplasmic pH dynamics in Maize Pulvinal Cells Induced by Gravity Vector Changes. Plant Phys: 127:119-130.
25. Crop Science 42:2193-2200.Cover photo.
26. W. Pline, KL Edmisten, T Oliver, JW Wilcut, R Wells, NS Allen. 2002. Use of digital image analysis, viability stains, and germination assays to estimate conventional and glyphosphate-resistant cotton pollen viability.
27. N.Strömgren Allen P. Chattaraj, D. Collings, and E. Johannes. 2003.
    Gravisensing: Ionic Responses, Cytoskeleton and amyloplast behavior. Advances in Space Science. Res. 32: 163-167
    
28. TV Productions:
    NOVA, The Green Machine. Film footage on cytoplasmic streaming.
    NOVA, Still Waters. Advisor on cine micrography.
    Cyanobacteria and stromatolites. 1992. Video tape as part of museum exhibit. For Chadd-Angiers Production Co., MA.
    Contractility of striated muscle. 1992. Video tape as part of museum exhibit. For Chadd-Angiers Production Co. MA.
    Many other digital and analogue video sequences and tape productions of events and structures in living cells are available upon request.
    

Date of Last Modification: 11/22/2005

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