Thomas Canam
Assistant Professor
Life Science Building 3054
217.581.6608
tcanam@eiu.edu
Dr. Canam's Web Site
My research focuses on using plants for bioenergy and bioproduct applications. One aspect of my research involves using biotechnology
to tailor plant traits for specific applications, such as bioethanol production.
I am also interested in using bacteria and fungi as pretreatment agents of agricultural residues destined for biomass-to-bioenergy processes, such as gasification. At EIU, my research will complement the numerous green energy initiatives on campus, including the Renewable Energy Center (http://www.eiu.edu/fpm/erec.php) and the Center for Clean Energy Research and Education (http://castle.eiu.edu/energy/).
Peer-Reviewed Publications:
Tsai, A.Y.-L., Canam, T., Gorzsás, A., Mellerowicz, E., Campbell, M.M., and Master, E.R. (2012) Constitutive expression of a fungal glucuronoyl esterase in Arabidopsis reveals altered cell wall composition and structure. Plant Biotechnology Journal. (submitted)
Unda, F., Canam, T., Preston, L., and Mansfield, S.D. (2012) Isolation and characterization of hybrid poplar galactinol synthases. Journal of Experimental Botany. 10.1093/jxb/err411.
Ramirez-Bribiesca, J.E., Wang Y., Long J., Canam T., Town J.R., Tsang, A., Dumonceaux T.J., and McAllister, T.A. (2011) Chemical characterization and in vitro fermentation of Brassica straw treated with the aerobic fungus Trametes versicolor. Canadian Journal of Animal Science. 91: 695-702.
Canam, T., Town, J.R., Tsang, A., McAllister, T.A., and Dumonceaux, T.J. (2011) Biological pretreatment with a cellobiose dehydrogenase-deficient strain of Trametes versicolor enhances the biofuel potential of canola straw. Bioresource Technology. 102: 10020-10027.
MacDonald, J., Doering, M., Canam, T., Gong, Y., Guttman, D., Campbell, M.M., and Master, E.R. (2011) Transcriptomic responses of the softwood-degrading white-rot fungus Phanerochaete carnosa during growth on coniferous and deciduous wood. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 77: 3211-3218.
Adapa, P.K., Tabil, L.G., Schoenau, G.J., Canam T., and Dumonceaux. T.J. (2011) Quantitative analysis of lignocellulosic components of non-treated and steam exploded barley, canola, oat and wheat straw using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology B. 1:177-188.
Park, J.-Y., Canam, T., Kang, K.-Y., Unda, F., and Mansfield, S.D. (2009) Sucrose phosphate synthase expression influences poplar phenology. Tree Physiology. 29: 937-946.
Canam, T., and Campbell, M.M. (2009) Genes and nitrogen fuel wood formation. New Phytologist. 182: 783-785.
Park, J.-Y., Canam, T., Kang, K.-Y., Ellis, D.D., and Mansfield, S.D. (2008) Over-expression of an Arabidopsis family A sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) gene alters plant growth and fibre development. Transgenic Research. 17: 181-192.
Canam, T., Unda, F., and Mansfield, S.D. (2008) Heterologous expression and functional characterization of two cell-wall invertases from hybrid poplar. Planta. 228 (6): 1011-1019.
Canam, T., Mak, S.W.Y., and Mansfield, S.D. (2008) Spatial and temporal expression profiling of cell-wall invertase genes in hybrid poplar. Tree Physiology. 28: 1059-1067.
Coleman, H.D., Canam, T., Kang, K.-Y., Ellis, D.D., and Mansfield, S.D. (2007) Over-expression of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase in hybrid poplar affects carbon allocation. The Journal of Experimental Botany. 58: 4257-4268.
Canam, T., Park, J.-Y., Yu, K.Y., Campbell, M.M., Ellis, D.D., and Mansfield, S.D. (2006) Varied growth, biomass and cellulose content in tobacco expressing yeast-derived invertases. Planta. 244(6): 1315-1327.
