
Here you can find Anna Kärkönen’s CV and publications.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
09/2016- : Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)
- Senior Scientist (on parental leave 06-12/2019; 02/21-02/22)
- Visiting scientist in Dept of Agricultural Sciences, Univ. of Helsinki
09/2011-08/2016:
- Academy Research Fellow, Dept of Agricultural Sciences, Univ. of Helsinki
- Project: Cell wall biosynthesis with special emphasis to lignin biosynthesis
2009-2011: MTT Agrifood Finland
- Principal Research Scientist
- Project: Effects of lignin on digestibility of forage
2005-2011:
- Dept of Agricultural Sciences (former Dept of Applied Biology), Univ. of Helsinki
- Project: Mechanisms of H2O2 production in plant cell wall; Regulation of lignin and diphenol biosynthesis, Transport of monolignols into the cell wall; Biologically active oligosaccharides.
2002-2005:
- The Edinburgh Cell Wall Group, Univ. of Edinburgh. Postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory led by Prof. S.C. Fry.
- Project 1: UDP-Glucuronic acid formation in maize, UDP-glucose dehydrogenase.
- Project 2: Mechanisms of H2O2 production in plant cell wall
1998-2002:
- Dept. of Biosciences, Div. of Plant Physiology, Univ. of Helsinki
- Project: Characterisation of lignin-forming enzymes and genes in Picea abies
1995-1997:
- Dept. of Biosciences, Div. of Plant Physiology, Univ. of Helsinki
- Project: Somatic embryogenesis of Tilia cordata; immunolocalisation of cytokinins
1993-1995:
- Dept. of Botany, Univ. of Helsinki
- Project: Introduction of Japanese and Chinese decorative trees in Southern Finland, micropropagation of several woody species
OTHER SCIENTIFIC EXPERIENCE:
- 2008-2015: Secretary General, Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society (SPPS)
- 2010: Competent Master’s Thesis supervisor. Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Helsinki
EDUCATION
- 2006: Docent of Plant Physiology, Univ. of Helsinki
- 2002: PhD, Biology, Plant Physiology, Univ. of Helsinki. Supervisor Prof. L.K. Simola
- 1994: MSc, Biology, Plant Physiology, Univ. of Helsinki
REFERENCES (*, #, equal contribution)
Kärkönen A, Korpinen R, Järvenpää E, Aalto A, Saranpää P (2022) Properties of oat and barley hulls and suitability for food packaging materials. J Nat Fibers, https://doi.org/10.1080/15440478.2022.2091709
Väisänen E, Takahashi J, Obudulu O, Bygdell J, Karhunen P, Blokhina O, Laitinen T, Teeri TH, Wingsle G, Fagerstedt KV, Kärkönen A# (2020) Hunting monolignol transporters: membrane proteomics and biochemical transport assays with membrane vesicles of Norway spruce. J Exp Bot 71: 6379-6395; https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/eraa368
Mansikkala T, Patanen M, Kärkönen A, Korpinen R, Pranovich A, Ogigashi T, Swaraj S, Seitsonen J, Ruokolainen J, Huttula M, Saranpää P, Piispanen R (2020) Lignans in knotwood of Norway spruce: Localisation with soft X-ray microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Molecules 25: 2997; doi:10.3390/molecules25132997
Kärkönen A, Santanen A, Iwamoto K, Fukuda H (2020) Plant tissue cultures. Invited book chapter in: Popper ZA (ed.) The Plant Cell Wall: Methods and Protocols, 2nd edition. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol. 2149. p. 89-109. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0621-6_6, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Termonen M, Korhonen P, Kykkänen S, Kärkönen A, Toivakka M, Kauppila R, Virkajärvi P (2020) Effects of nitrogen application rate on productivity, nutritive value and winter tolerance of timothy and meadow fescue cultivars. Grass and Forage Science 75: 111-126, https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12461
Blokhina O#, Laitinen T#, Hatakeyama Y#, Delhomme N, Paasela T, Zhao L, Street NR, Wada H*, Kärkönen A*, Fagerstedt KV* (2019) Ray cells contribute to monolignol biosynthesis in developing xylem of Norway spruce. Plant Physiol DOI: https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.19.00743
Huttula M, Patanen M, Piispanen R, Ohigashi T, Kosugi N, Swaraj S, Belkhou R, Pranovich A, Jyske T, Kilpeläinen P, Kärkönen A, Korpinen R, Laakso T, Valkonen S, Saranpää P (2018) STXM chemical mapping of Norway spruce knotwood lignans. Microscopy and Microanalysis 24 S2: 482-483
Hamann T, Kärkönen A, Krause K (2018) From plant cell wall metabolism and plasticity to cell wall biotechnology. Physiol. Plant. 164: 2-4, doi.org/10.1111/ppl.12794
Martinez-Rubio R, Acebes JL, Encina A, Kärkönen A (2018) Class III peroxidases in cellulose deficient cultured maize cells during cell wall remodelling. Physiol Plant. 164: 45–55, doi:10.1111/ppl.12710
Viljamaa S*, Dikareva E*, Tolonen J, Edesi J, Nickolov K, Laitinen T, Laakso T, Korpinen R, Saranpää P, Jokipii-Lukkari S, Kärkönen A#, Häggman H# (2018) Cryopreservation of the Norway spruce cell culture line able to produce extracellular lignin. Plant Cell Tiss Org Cult. 133: 225–235, doi:10.1007/s11240-017-1375-4
Väisänen E, Takahashi J, Deng X, Teeri TH, Fagerstedt KV, Lüthje S, Kärkönen A (2018) Isolation and purity assessment of membranes from Norway spruce. In: Mock HP., Matros A., Witzel K. (eds) Plant Membrane Proteomics. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1696, pp. 13-39. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7411-5_2
Laitinen T#, Morreel K#, Delhomme N#, Gauthier A, Schiffthaler B, Nickolov K, Brader G, Lim KJ, Teeri TH, Street NR*, Boerjan W*, Kärkönen A* (2017) A key role for apoplastic H2O2 in Norway spruce phenolic metabolism. Plant Physiol 174: 1449-1475 (#,*equal contribution)
Salojärvi J, Smolander OP, Nieminen K, Rajaraman S, Mohammadi O, Safdari P, Lamminmäki A, Immanen J, Lan T, Tanskanen J, Rastas P, Amiryousefi A, Jayaprakash B, Kammonen J, Hagqvist R, Eswaran G, Ahonen VH, Alonso Serra J, Asiegbu FO, de Dios Barajas-Lopez J, Blande D, Blokhina O, Blomster T, Broholm S, Brosché M, Cui F, Dardick C, Ehonen S, Elomaa P, Escamez S, Fagerstedt KV, Fujii H, Gauthier A, Gollan PJ, Halimaa P, Heino P, Himanen K, Hollender C, Kangasjärvi S, Kauppinen L, Kelleher CT, Kontunen-Soppela S, Koskinen JP, Kovalchuk A, Kärenlampi S, Kärkönen AK, Lim KJ, Leppälä J, Macpherson L, Mikola J, Mouhu K, Mähönen AP, Niinemets U, Oksanen E, Overmyer K, Palva ET, Pazouki L, Pennanen V, Puhakainen T, Poczai P, Possen BJHM, Punkkinen M, Rahikainen M, Rousi M, Ruonala R, van der Schoot C, Shapiguzov A, Sierla M, Sipilä TP, Sutela S, Teeri TH, Tervahauta AI, Vaattovaara A, Vahala J, Vetchinnikova L, Welling A, Wrzaczek M, Xu E, Paulin L, Schulman AH, Lascoux M, Albert VA, Auvinen P, Helariutta Y, Kangasjärvi J (2017) Genome sequencing and population genomic analyses provide insights into the adaptive landscape of silver birch. Nature Genetics. doi:10.1038/ng.3862
Kärkönen A, Dewhirst RA, Mackay CL, Fry SC (2017) Metabolites of 2,3-diketogulonate delay peroxidase action and induce non-enzymic H2O2 generation: potential roles in cell-wall loosening. Arch Biochem Biophysics 620: 12-22
Blokhina O, Valerio C, Sokolowska K, Zhao L, Kärkönen A, Niittylä T and Fagerstedt KV (2017). Laser capture microdissection protocol for xylem tissues of woody plants. Front. Plant Sci. 7: 1965. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2016.01965
Warinowski T, Koutaniemi S, Kärkönen A, Sundberg I, Toikka M, Simola LK, Kilpeläinen I, Teeri TH (2016) Peroxidases bound to the growing lignin polymer produce natural-like extracellular lignin in a cell culture of Norway spruce. Front Plant Sci 7: 1523. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2016.01523
Väisänen EE, Smeds AI, Fagerstedt KV, Teeri TH, Willför SM, Kärkönen A (2015) Coniferyl alcohol hinders the growth of tobacco BY-2 cells and Nicotiana benthamiana seedlings. Planta 242: 747-760
Fagerstedt K, Kärkönen A (2015) The plant cell wall. Editorial to the Special Issue on Plant Cell Wall. J Integr Plant Biol 57: 328-329
Koutaniemi S, Malmberg HA, Simola LK, Teeri TH, Kärkönen A (2015) Norway spruce (Picea abies) laccases: characterisation of a laccase in a lignin-forming tissue culture. J Integr Plant Biol 57: 341–348
Kärkönen A, Kuchitsu K (2015) Reactive oxygen species in cell wall metabolism and development in plants. Phytochemistry, 112: 22–32
Kärkönen A, Meisrimler CN, Takahashi J, Väisänen E, Laitinen T, Jiménez Barboza LA, Holmström S, Salonvaara S, Wienkoop S, Fagerstedt KF, Lüthje S (2014a) Isolation of cellular membranes from lignin-producing tissues of Norway spruce and analysis of redox enzymes. Physiol Plant 152: 599-616
Kärkönen A, Tapanila T, Laakso T, Seppänen M, Isolahti M, Hyrkäs M, Virkajärvi P, Saranpää P (2014b) Effect of lignin content and subunit composition on digestibility in clones of timothy (Phleum pratense L.). J Agric Food Chem 62: 6091-6099
Kärkönen A, Santanen A, Iwamoto K, Fukuda H (2011) Plant tissue cultures. In: Popper ZA (ed.) The Plant Cell Wall: Methods and Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 715, pp.1-20. Humana Press, USA. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-008-9
Kärkönen A, Koutaniemi S (2010) Lignin biosynthesis studies in plant tissue cultures. J Integr Plant Biol 52: 176-185
Kärkönen A, Warinowski T, Teeri TH, Simola LK, Fry SC (2009) On the mechanism of apoplastic H2O2 production during lignin formation and elicitation in cultured spruce cells – peroxidases after elicitation. Planta 230: 553-567
Koutaniemi S, Warinowski T, Kärkönen A, Alatalo E, Fossdal CG, Saranpää P, Laakso T, Fagerstedt KV, Simola LK, Paulin L, Rudd S, Teeri TH (2007) Expression profiling of the lignin biosynthetic pathway in Norway spruce using EST sequencing and real-time RT-PCR. Plant Mol Biol 65: 311-328
Kärkönen A, Fry SC (2006) Effect of ascorbate and its oxidation products on H2O2 production in cell-suspension cultures of Picea abies and in the absence of cells. J Exp Bot 57: 1633-1644
Koutaniemi S, Toikka MM, Kärkönen A, Mustonen M, Lundell T, Simola LK, Kilpeläinen IA, Teeri TH (2005) Characterization of basic p-coumaryl and coniferyl alcohol oxidizing peroxidases from a lignin forming Picea abies suspension culture. Plant Mol Biol 58: 141-157
Kärkönen A (2002) Plant Tissue Cultures as Models for Tree Physiology: Somatic embryogenesis of Tilia cordata and lignin biosynthesis in Picea abies suspension cultures as case studies. PhD thesis. Dissertationes Biocentri Viikki Universitatis Helsingiensis 2/2002. http://ethesis.helsinki.fi
Kärkönen A, Koutaniemi S, Mustonen M, Syrjänen K, Brunow G, Kilpeläinen I, Teeri TH, Simola LK (2002) Lignification related enzymes in Picea abies suspension cultures. Physiol Plant 114: 343-353
Gustafsson M, Kärkönen A, Simola L, Teeri TH, Sipilä J, Kilpeläinen I, Brunow G (2001) β-Fluoro-coniferyl alcohol does not inhibit lignin biosynthesis in suspension cultures of Picea abies. Phytochemistry 58: 243-248
Publications from the post doc time:
Kärkönen A, Fry SC (2006) Novel characteristics of UDP-glucose dehydrogenase activities in maize: non-involvement of alcohol dehydrogenases in cell wall polysaccharide biosynthesis. Planta 223: 858-870
Kärkönen A, Murigneux A, Martinant JP, Pepey E, Tatout C, Dudley BJ, Fry SC (2005) UDP-glucose dehydrogenases of maize — a role in cell wall pentose biosynthesis. Biochem J 391: 409-415
Kärkönen A (2005) Biosynthesis of UDP-GlcA: via UDPGDH or myo-inositol oxidation pathway? Invited review. Plant Biosystems 139: 46-49
Other publications:
Emmervall J, Jonsson L (research and text); Emmervall J, Hamborg Nielsen T, Jonsson L, Kärkönen A (interviews) (2014) Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society – 66 years of collaboration and friendship. Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society, www.spps.fi. ISBN 978-91-981495-0-0, 40 p.
Kärkönen A (2000) Anatomical study of somatic and zygotic embryos of Tilia cordata. Plant Cell Tiss Org Cult 61: 205-214
Kärkönen A, Simola LK (1999) Localization of cytokinins in somatic and zygotic embryos of Tilia cordata using immunocytochemistry. Physiol Plant 105: 356-366
Kärkönen A, Simola LK, Koponen T (1999) Micropropagation of several Japanese woody plants for horticultural purposes. Ann Bot Fennici 36: 21-31
Popularised papers:
Väisänen E, Laitinen T, Gauthier A, Kärkönen A (2016) Ligniinissä lepää lupaus. Maaseudun Tulevaisuus 142: 12, 05.12.2016
Väisänen E, Laitinen T, Gauthier A, Kärkönen A (2016) Ligniini tukee ja mahdollistaa vedenkuljetuksen. Maaseudun Tulevaisuus 142: 12, 05.12.2016
Kärkönen A, Seppänen M, Isolahti M, Tapanila T, Laakso T, Hyrkäs M, Virkajärvi P, Saranpää P (2016) Timotein koostumus suurennuslasin alla. Nauta 46: 46-47
Kärkönen A, Tapanila T, Laakso T, Seppänen M, Isolahti M, Hyrkäs M, Virkajärvi P, Saranpää P (2013) Ligniinin vaikutus timoteirehun sulavuuteen. Luonnon Tutkija 4: 148-149
Kärkönen A, Korhonen P, Pehkonen T, Väisänen E, Seppänen M, Teeri T, Joki-Tokola E, Virkajärvi P, Häggman H (2010) Ligniini liimaa puissa ja heinissä. Maaseudun Tiede 4/2010: 15
Earlier spruce work:
Brunow G, Ämmälahti E, Niemi T, Sipilä J, Simola LK, Kilpeläinen I (1998) Labelling of a lignin from suspension cultures of Picea abies. Phytochemistry 47: 1495-1500
Brunow G, Kilpeläinen I, Lapierre C, Lundquist K, Simola LK, Lemmetyinen J (1993) The chemical structure of extracellular lignin released by cultures of Picea abies. Phytochemistry 32: 845-850
Simola, LK, Lemmetyinen J, Santanen A (1992) Lignin release and photomixotrophism in suspension cultures of Picea abies. Physiol Plant 84: 374-379
