Caren Chang headshot
Contact Info
Office: 0128 Bioscience Research Bldg.
Phone: 301-405-1643

Caren Chang

Professor
Co-Director, Terrapin Teachers

Graduate Program Affiliations

Research Interests

We are focusing on signal transduction of the plant hormone ethylene (C2H4), a simple gas that has profound effects on plant growth and development. Our research utilizes a combination of molecular biology, genetics, cell biology and proteomics in order to understand the molecular mechanisms of ethylene signaling. Our model system is the small flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana.

Education

  • Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, 1988

All Publications

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Latest Publications

Littleton ES,Chang C
Ethylene receptors send an unexpected messenger.
Mol Plant. 2026 May 12;:. pii: S1674-2052(26)00148-6. doi: 10.1016/j.molp.2026.05.005. Epub 2026 May 12
Mou W,Khare R,Polko JK,Taylor I,Xu J,Xue D,Benfey P,Van de Poel B,Chang C,Kieber JJ
Ethylene-independent modulation of root development by ACC via downregulation of WOX5 and group I CLE peptide expression.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Feb 11;122(6):e2417735122. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2417735122. Epub 2025 Feb 5
Wang Y,Jiang L,Kong D,Meng J,Song M,Cui W,Song Y,Wang X,Liu J,Wang R,He Y,Chang C,Ju C
Ethylene controls three-dimensional growth involving reduced auxin levels in the moss Physcomitrium patens.
New Phytol. 2024 Jun;242(5):1996-2010. doi: 10.1111/nph.19728. Epub 2024 Apr 3
Li D,Dierschke T,Roden S,Chen K,Bowman JL,Chang C,Van de Poel B
A transporter of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid affects thallus growth and fertility in Marchantia polymorpha.
New Phytol. 2022 Dec;236(6):2103-2114. doi: 10.1111/nph.18510. Epub 2022 Oct 19
Bharadwaj PS,Sanchez L,Li D,Enyi D,Van de Poel B,Chang C
The plant hormone ethylene promotes abiotic stress tolerance in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha.
Front Plant Sci. 2022;13:998267. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.998267. Epub 2022 Oct 18
Brunkard JO,Chang C,Mayer BJ,Meyer C,Sheen J
ConducTORs of a Signaling Symphony: Metabolic and Hormone Responses Converge on TOR and EIN2 in plants.
Fac Rev. 2022;11:12. doi: 10.12703/r-01-000008. Epub 2022 May 10
Van de Poel B,Chang C
Is losing ethylene a losing game?
Mol Plant. 2022 May 2;15(5):788-790. doi: 10.1016/j.molp.2022.03.005. Epub 2022 Mar 12
Li D,Mou W,Van de Poel B,Chang C
Something old, something new: Conservation of the ethylene precursor 1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid as a signaling molecule.
Curr Opin Plant Biol. 2022 Feb;65:102116. doi: 10.1016/j.pbi.2021.102116. Epub 2021 Oct 13
Althiab-Almasaud R,Sallanon H,Chang C,Chervin C
1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid stimulates tomato pollen tube growth independently of ethylene receptors.
Physiol Plant. 2021 Dec;173(4):2291-2297. doi: 10.1111/ppl.13579. Epub 2021 Oct 13
Li D,Flores-Sandoval E,Ahtesham U,Coleman A,Clay JM,Bowman JL,Chang C
Ethylene-independent functions of the ethylene precursor ACC in Marchantia polymorpha.
Nat Plants. 2020 Nov;6(11):1335-1344. doi: 10.1038/s41477-020-00784-y. Epub 2020 Oct 26
Mou W,Kao YT,Michard E,Simon AA,Li D,Wudick MM,Lizzio MA,Feijó JA,Chang C
Ethylene-independent signaling by the ethylene precursor ACC in Arabidopsis ovular pollen tube attraction.
Nat Commun. 2020 Aug 14;11(1):4082. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-17819-9. Epub 2020 Aug 14
Van Der Straeten D,Kanellis A,Kalaitzis P,Bouzayen M,Chang C,Mattoo A,Zhang JS
Editorial: Ethylene Biology and Beyond: Novel Insights in the Ethylene Pathway and Its Interactions.
Front Plant Sci. 2020;11:248. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00248. Epub 2020 Mar 12