Sharon R. Long
{{Short description|American plant biologist (born 1951)}}
{{Infobox scientist
|name = Sharon Long
|birth_name = Sharon Rugel Long
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|3|2}}
|birth_place =
|death_date =
|death_place =
| thesis_title = Maturation and Germination Programs in Developing Embryos of Phaseolus
| thesis_year = 1979
| thesis_url = https://hdl.handle.net/10079/bibid/14715512
|known_for = bacterial-plant symbiosis
|spouse = {{plainlist|
- {{marriage|Harold McGee|July 7, 1979|2004|end=div}}
- {{marriage|Gilbert Chu|August 9, 2008}}
}}
|children = 2
| awards = Member of the National Academy of Sciences
|notable_students = Giles Oldroyd
|website = {{URL|https://profiles.stanford.edu/sharon-long}}
|fields = Plant biology
|workplaces = Stanford University
|education = Harvey Mudd College
California Institute of Technology {{small|(BS)}}
Yale University {{small|(MS, PhD)}}
}}
Sharon Rugel Long (born March 2, 1951) is an American plant biologist. She is the Steere-Pfizer Professor of Biological Science in the Department of Biology at Stanford University, and the Principal Investigator of the Long Laboratory at Stanford.{{cite web|title=Long Lab Present Members|url=http://cmgm.stanford.edu/biology/long/presentmembers.html|website=Stanford University|access-date=3 April 2018}}{{cite web|title=Sharon Rugel Long - Stanford CAP Network|url=https://cap.stanford.edu/profiles/viewCV?facultyId=6228&name=Sharon_Long|website=Stanford University|access-date=3 April 2018}}
Long studies the symbiosis between bacteria and plants, in particular the relationship of nitrogen-fixing bacteria to legumes. Her work has applications for energy conservation and sustainable agriculture.
She is a 1992 MacArthur Fellows Program recipient,
and became a Member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1993.{{cite web|title=Sharon R. Long|url=http://www.nasonline.org/member-directory/members/44.html|website=National Academy of Sciences|access-date=3 April 2018}}
Early life and education
Sharon Rugel Long was born on {{birth date |1951|03|02}} to Harold Eugene and Florence Jean (Rugel) Long.{{cite web|title=Florence Jean Long|url=http://www.ama-cdn.com/obituaries/2011-05-14/florence-jean-long|website=Amarillo Globe-News|date=July 27, 2016}}
She attended George Washington High School in Denver, Colorado.{{cite news|title=Pioneer Women|url=http://calteches.library.caltech.edu/343/1/pioneer.pdf|access-date=3 April 2018|work=E&S|pages=20–21|publisher=Caltech|date=June 1973}}
Long spent a year at Harvey Mudd College before becoming one of the first women to attend Caltech in September 1970. She completed a double major in biochemistry and French literature in the Independent Studies Program, and obtained her B.S. in 1973.
Long went on to study biochemistry and genetics at Yale, receiving her Ph.D. in 1979.
She began her research on plants and symbiosis while a postdoc at Frederick M Ausubel{{'}}s lab at Harvard University.{{cite journal|last1=Jones|first1=J. D.G.|title=From Physics and Chemistry to Plant Biology|journal=Plant Physiology|date=1 February 2002|volume=128|issue=2|pages=332–333|doi=10.1104/pp.900017|url=http://www.plantphysiol.org/content/plantphysiol/128/2/332.full.pdf|access-date=3 April 2018|pmc=1540203}}{{cite journal|last1=Long|first1=Sharon R.|last2=Buikema|first2=William J.|last3=Ausubel|first3=Frederick M.|title=Cloning of Rhizobium meliloti nodulation genes by direct complementation of Nod− mutants|journal=Nature|date=29 July 1982|volume=298|issue=5873|pages=485–488|doi=10.1038/298485a0|bibcode=1982Natur.298..485L|s2cid=24556846}}
Career and research
Long joined the Stanford University faculty in 1982 as an assistant professor, rising to associate professor in 1987, and full professor in 1992.{{cite book|last1=Bailey|first1=Martha J.|title=American women in science, 1950 to the present: a biographical dictionary|date=1998|publisher=ABC-Clio|location=Santa Barbara, California|isbn=978-0-87436-921-2|page=240}}
From 1994 to 2001, she was also an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.{{cite web|title=Sharon R. Long, PhD|url=http://www.hhmi.org/scientists/sharon-r-long|website=Howard Hughes Medical Institute|access-date=3 April 2018}}
She currently holds the Steere-Pfizer chair in Biological Sciences at Stanford. She serves on the Board of Directors of Annual Reviews.{{Cite web |title=Annual Reviews Board of Directors |url=https://www.annualreviews.org/about/our-team |website=Annual Reviews}}
From 1993 to 1996, she was part of the National Research Council{{'}}s Committee on Undergraduate Science Education.{{cite book |title=Bio2010: transforming undergraduate education for future research biologists|date=2002|publisher=National Academies Press|location=Washington, D.C.|isbn=0-309-08535-7|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK43510/}}
She served as Dean of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford University from 2001 to 2007.{{cite news|last1=Shwartz|first1=Mark|title=Sharon Long appointed dean of School of Humanities and Sciences|url=https://web.stanford.edu/dept/news/pr/01/long-44.html|access-date=3 April 2018|work=Stanford News Service|date=April 6, 2001}}{{cite news|title=Sharon Long announces plan to leave dean's post in 2007|url=https://news.stanford.edu/news/2006/april5/long-040506.html|access-date=3 April 2018|work=Stanford News|date=April 5, 2006}}{{cite book|last1=Maher|first1=Frances A.|last2=Tetreault|first2=Mary Kay Thomson|title=Privilege and diversity in the American academy.|date=2005|publisher=Routledge.|location=New York|isbn=0-415-94665-4|pages=102–103|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7QaOAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA102|access-date=3 April 2018}}
In September 2008 she was identified as one of 5 science advisors for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.{{cite magazine|last1=Keim|first1=Brandon|title=Obama Campaign Reveals Science Advisors|url=https://www.wired.com/2008/09/obama-campaign-8/|access-date=3 April 2018|magazine=Wired|date=September 17, 2008}}{{cite news|last1=Crocker|first1=Ellen|title=Serendipity and Science: 30 Minutes with Dr. Sharon Long|url=https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/serendipity-and-science-30-minutes-with-dr-sharon-long/|access-date=3 April 2018|work=Scientific American|date=April 12, 2012}} In 2011, she was appointed to the President's Committee on the National Medal of Science by President Obama.{{cite news|last1=Ray|first1=Elaine|title=Sharon Long appointed to National Medal of Science committee|url=https://news.stanford.edu/thedish/2011/09/19/sharon-long-appointed-to-national-medal-of-science-committee/|access-date=3 April 2018|work=Stanford News|date=September 19, 2011}}
{{external media | width = 210px | float = right | headerimage= | video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss31DIBw-1A "Legume and Bacteria Symbiosis"], Sharon Long (Stanford), iBiology Techniques |video2 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Asc-VGVOaho "Nod gene transcription"], Sharon Long (Stanford), iBiology Techniques }}
Long identified and cloned genes that allow bacteria to find and enter certain plants in which they live symbiotically. She has examined the interactions of Rhizobium bacteria with legumes such as alfalfa, soybeans and peas, in which they enhance nitrogen production. She has genetically modified bacteria to make them more effective at entering host plants and producing nitrogen. Such initiatives may enable farmers to reduce nitrogen fertilizer use and runoff of fertilizer into local water supplies.
Her current{{when|date=June 2021}} research uses molecular, genetic, and biochemical techniques to study the early stages of symbiosis between Sinorhizobium meliloti and its host plants in the genus Medicago.{{cite journal|last1=Long|first1=Sharon R.|title=Control of Symbiotic Gene Expression in Sinorhizobium meliloti|url=http://grantome.com/grant/NIH/R01-GM093628-06|website=Grantome|access-date=3 April 2018}} Rhizobium cells recognize and form nodules on their plant hosts. Her group discovered that a flavone (luteolin) derived from alfalfa seed extracts is necessary for activation of nodulation genes (nod ABC) in Sinorhizobium meliloti.{{cite journal|last1=Peters|first1=NK|last2=Frost|first2=JW|last3=Long|first3=SR |title=A plant flavone, luteolin, induces expression of Rhizobium meliloti nodulation genes |journal=Science|date=29 August 1986|volume=233|issue=4767|pages=977–80|pmid=3738520|doi=10.1126/science.3738520|bibcode=1986Sci...233..977P}} They proved that some nod genes encode enzymes that synthesize Nod Factor. They discovered that plant root hair cells show rapid ionic changes including calcium spiking in response to specific Nod Factors. With colleagues, they have identified plant genes for symbiosis, and correlated these with specific stages in nodule development.{{cite journal|last1=Long|first1=SR|title=Rhizobium-legume nodulation: life together in the underground|journal=Cell|date=27 January 1989|volume=56|issue=2|pages=203–14|pmid=2643474|doi=10.1016/0092-8674(89)90893-3|s2cid=1055437}}{{cite journal|last1=Schwedock|first1=J|last2=Long|first2=SR|title=ATP sulphurylase activity of the nodP and nodQ gene products of Rhizobium meliloti|journal=Nature|date=13 December 1990|volume=348|issue=6302|pages=644–7|doi=10.1038/348644a0|pmid=2250719|bibcode=1990Natur.348..644S|s2cid=4318180}}
{{cite journal|last1=Southwick|first1=A. M.|last2=Wang|first2=L.-X.|last3=Long|first3=S. R.|last4=Lee|first4=Y. C.|title=Activity of Sinorhizobium meliloti NodAB and NodH Enzymes on Thiochitooligosaccharides|journal=Journal of Bacteriology|date=15 July 2002|volume=184|issue=14|pages=4039–4043|doi=10.1128/JB.184.14.4039-4043.2002|pmid=12081977|pmc=135183}}{{cite journal|last1=Long|first1=Sharon R.|title=Receptive to infection|journal=Nature|date=8 July 2015|volume=523|issue=7560|pages=298–299|doi=10.1038/nature14632|pmid=26153862|doi-access=free}}{{cite book|last1=Palacios|first1=Rafael|last2=Mora|first2=Jaime|last3=Newton|first3=William E.|title=New horizons in nitrogen fixation proceedings of the 9th International Congress on Nitrogen Fixation, Cancún, Mexico, December 6-12, 1992|date=1993|publisher=Kluwer Academic|location=Dordrecht, the Netherlands|isbn=978-94-017-2416-6|page=28|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6QTuCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA28|access-date=3 April 2018}}
=Selected publications=
- {{cite journal|last1=Peters|first1=NK|last2=Frost|first2=JW|last3=Long|first3=SR |title=A plant flavone, luteolin, induces expression of Rhizobium meliloti nodulation genes|journal=Science|date=29 August 1986|volume=233|issue=4767|pages=977–80|pmid=3738520|doi=10.1126/science.3738520|bibcode=1986Sci...233..977P}}
- {{cite journal|last1=Long|first1=SR|title=Rhizobium-legume nodulation: life together in the underground|journal=Cell|date=27 January 1989|volume=56|issue=2|pages=203–14|pmid=2643474|doi=10.1016/0092-8674(89)90893-3|s2cid=1055437}}
- {{cite journal|last1=Schwedock|first1=J|last2=Long|first2=SR|title=ATP sulphurylase activity of the nodP and nodQ gene products of Rhizobium meliloti|journal=Nature|date=13 December 1990|volume=348|issue=6302|pages=644–7|doi=10.1038/348644a0|pmid=2250719|bibcode=1990Natur.348..644S|s2cid=4318180}}
=Awards and honors=
- 1984–1989, Presidential Young Investigator Award, National Science Foundation
- 1985, Shell Research Foundation Award
- 1989, Charles Albert Shull Award, American Society of Plant Physiology{{cite web|title=The Charles Albert Shull Award|url=https://aspb.org/awards-funding/aspb-awards/charles-albert-shull-award/#tab-id-3|website=American Society of Plant Biologists|access-date=3 April 2018}}
- 1992, MacArthur Foundation Fellowship{{cite web|title=Sharon R. Long Plant Biologist Class of 1992|url=https://www.macfound.org/fellows/468/|website=MacArthur Foundation|date=January 1, 2005|access-date=3 April 2018}}
- 1993, member, National Academy of Sciences
- 1994, fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- 2000, member, American Philosophical Society{{Cite web|title=APS Member History|url=https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=Sharon+R.+Long&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced|access-date=2021-11-30|website=search.amphilsoc.org}}
- 2002, Wilbur Cross Medal in Biology, Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (highest alumni honor){{cite web|title=2002 Bios|url=http://www.aya.yale.edu/content/2002-winners-bios|website=Yale Alumni Association|access-date=3 April 2018}}
- 2007, fellow, American Society of Plant Biologists{{cite web|title=Fellow of ASPB Award|url=https://aspb.org/awards-funding/aspb-awards/fellow-of-aspb/#tab-id-3|website=American Society of Plant Biologists|access-date=3 April 2018}}
- 2019 Selman A. Waksman Award in Microbiology{{cite web |title=Sharon R. Long |url=http://www.nasonline.org/programs/awards/2019-nas-awards/Long.html |website=www.nasonline.org}}
- Recognized as a Pioneer Member of the American Society of Plant Biologists.{{cite web | url=https://aspb.org/membership/aspb-pioneer-members/ | title=ASPB Pioneer Members }}
Personal life
Long married Harold James McGee on July 7, 1979 and divorced in 2004. They had two children.{{Cite web|url=https://www.paloaltoonline.com/weekly/morgue/2004/2004_11_19.mcgee19ja.shtml|title = A chemist in the kitchen (November 19, 2004)}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
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Category:Howard Hughes Medical Investigators
Category:Harvey Mudd College alumni
Category:California Institute of Technology alumni
Category:Yale University alumni
Category:Harvard University alumni
Category:Stanford University Department of Biology faculty
Category:Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences