Thesis
Molecular and physiological characterization of an unusually large Arabidopsis thaliana deletion mutant
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
12/2020
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000000087
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/111386
Abstract
Economist predict that the annually required gain in crop yields will be insufficient to
nourish the growing global population (Ray et al., 2013; Tilman et al., 2011). For this reason,
researchers are working towards understanding molecular and biochemical pathways in plants
hoping to meet future food demands through optimizing plant function (Bailey-Serres et al.,
2019). A particular interest is to unravel genes involved in the plant’s response to light stress and
to discover ways that can improve crop yields by optimizing photosynthesis (Bailey-Serres et al.,
2019; Kaiser et al., 2018).
NHD1 is a chloroplast ion transporter protein (Na+/H+) that indirectly works to maintain
ion homeostasis (Müller et al., 2014). We used the previously published Arabidopsis thaliana TDNA insertion line SALK008491 which is mapped to the NHD1 locus to further unravel the
significance of NHD1 for plant function. In our growth conditions, the T-DNA SALK_008491
line revealed a high non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) phenotype which apparently went
unnoticed in the previous study by Müller et al., (2014).
Using whole genome sequencing analysis of an F2 generation bulk population isolated
through NPQ analysis, we discovered that the T-DNA SALK_008491 carries a 16kb deletion on
chromosome three, which deletes six genes including NHD1. While we were able to assign the
elevated NPQ phenotype mainly to the loss of PGDH3 (one of the genes affected by the elevated NPQ phenotype mainly to the loss of PGDH3 (one of the genes affected by the
deletion), additional high-throughput phenotyping studies revealed that the SALK_008491 TDNA line also has dramatically decreased biomass and significant PSII damage under fluctuating
light. The genetic characterization of the SALK_008491 T-DNA line along with highthroughput phenotypic analysis allowed us to identify that the simultaneous loss of
phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase 3 (PGDH3) and NHD1 is responsible for the PSII damage (low
Fv/Fm) and decreased biomass phenotype seen in the SALK_008491 T-DNA under fluctuating
light.
The study of the SALK_008491 T-DNA line demonstrates that massive T-DNA deletions
can aid in the understanding of nuclear-encoded chloroplasts genes interdependency. Due to the
genetic characterization of the SALK_008491 line which we call doi, for deletion of interest, we
can further investigate the role of chloroplast proteins in response to fluctuating light growth
conditions. The knowledge generated in this work may enhance protection to light stress which
could result in higher crop yields.
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Details
- Title
- Molecular and physiological characterization of an unusually large Arabidopsis thaliana deletion mutant
- Creators
- Laura Susana Lopez
- Contributors
- Hanjo A Hellman (Degree Supervisor)HELMUT KIRCHHOFF (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Biological Chemistry, Institute ofHANS HENNING KUNZ (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Biological Sciences, School of
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Biological Sciences, School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 121
- Identifiers
- 99900587063601842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis