Associate Professor and Program Leader BS Biotechnology
Phone: (239)590-7236
E-Mail: tueda@fgcu.edu
Office: Whitaker 253

Dr. Ueda's research is directed towards a better understanding of the stress tolerance mechanisms of plants and animals. His work focuses on peroxiredoxins (Prx’s) that are evolutionarily conserved thiol-dependent antioxidant enzymes that protect organisms against cellular damages caused by reactive oxygen and sulfur species produced from oxidation processes. Using molecular and transgenic techniques, he is examining the role of peroxiredoxins in desiccation tolerance in plants, and its regulation during seed development and vegetative growth. Plant species under investigation include buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum, Arabidopsis thaliana, and local species that exhibit remarkable abilities for vegetative desiccation tolerance such as Ball Moss Tillandsia and Melaleuca. Recently, his research has been extended to an animal system, monitoring the role of peroxiredoxins in the stress tolerance of the flatback mud crab Eurypanopeus depressus.