BSc University of Western Ontario (1969) MSc University of Illinois (1973) PhD Dalhousie University (1977)

Dr. Bonen’s research program focuses on the structure, expression and evolution of mitochondrial genes in plants - events that are essential for the respiratory function. Dr. Bonen’s team is particularly interested in gene expression at the RNA level, the impact of DNA rearrangements, and movement of mitochondrial genes to the nucleus during evolution.

We are also interested in understanding why genetic information can move so easily from one compartment to another within plant cells and how it does so. We are focusing on ribosomal protein genes which are encoded in the mitochondrion in some plants but in the nucleus in others, and the implications that such translocation has for gene expression and gene evolution.

Dalby, S., Bonen, L. Impact of low temperature on splicing of atypical group II introns. Mitochondrion 13: 647–655, 2013 Choi, B., Acero, M., Bonen L. Mapping of wheat mitochondrial mRNA termini and comparison with breakpoints in DNA homology among plants. Plant Mol. Biol. 80: 539-552, 2012 Bonen, L. Cis- and trans-splicing of group II introns in plant mitochondria. Mitochondrion 8: 26-34, 2008 Hazle, T., Bonen, L. Status of genes encoding the mitochondrial S1 ribosomal protein gener in closely-related legumes. Gene 405: 108-116, 2007 Li-Pook-Than, J., Bonen, L. Multiples physical forms of excised group II intron RNAs in wheat mitochondria. Nucl. Acids Res. 34: 2782-90, 2006