Prof. Rebecca Roston
In celebration of Agrisera’s 40th anniversary in 2025, we have conducted a series of short interviews with scientists, who have shared their knowledge, ideas and laboratory experience, contributing to the development of Agrisera's antibody collection for plant and algal science. The aim is to honor their contributions to the field, as well as inspire others to venture into plant science, with the support of Agrisera antibodies.
Dr. Rebecca Roston is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she leads a research team investigating how plant membranes adapt to environmental stresses, particularly cold and freezing conditions. Her lab explores the molecular and biophysical mechanisms of membrane lipid remodeling and protein interactions, focusing on their roles in plant growth and photosynthesis.
- Please tell us about yourself and your research/institution.
I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I lead a research team focusing on the molecular and biophysical mechanisms underpinning plant membrane adaptation to environmental stresses, particularly cold and freezing conditions. We investigate the dynamic processes of membrane lipid remodeling, protein interactions, and their roles in plant growth and photosynthetic efficiency. Using advanced microscopy, molecular biology, and biochemical techniques, our work spans model systems like Arabidopsis thaliana and diverse grasses to uncover conserved stress responses and improve plant resilience. Beyond research, I am committed to education and mentorship, teaching and advising the student and post-doc organization CROPS.
- What motivated you to get into plant science?
I had been doing research as an undergraduate in the Neurology department at UC Davis. Interviewing for graduate schools, I had an influential conversation with Dr. Steven Theg who said that if I was interested in activated membranes, I should be working on chloroplasts. I then rotated with two plant science labs, and the rest is history! The extreme flexibility in plant systems to approach a problem simultaneously using biophysics, biochemistry, molecular biology, and physiology was simply too attractive. In my opinion, plant research has the potential to answer questions more thoroughly than most other fields.
- How have you used (Agrisera) antibodies in your research?
Agrisera's verified plant antibodies have been absolutely essential throughout my career. As a graduate student with Kentaro Inoue, I used them to help me characterize fractions of the chloroplast, unequivocally locating my protein of interest for the first time in two of them. As a post-doctoral researcher with Christoph Benning, they were once again critical in identifying the right membrane fractions responsible for a variety of lipid biosynthetic functions. Finally, as a lab leader, they have been the trusted resource for all of our subcellular fractionation needs. I only ask for more of them!
• Prof. Rebecca Roston, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Agrisera Compartment Marker Antibodies
• Agrisera antibodies to proteins involved in plant stress response