Award details

Functional genomics and metabolomics of the versatile acyl-CoA tansferase super-family of enzymes in plants

Reference	BB/C505732/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Anthony Michael
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Dr Mark Collier
Institution	Quadram Institute Bioscience
Department	Food Safety Science Division
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	179,419
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/02/2005
End date	31/01/2008
Duration	36 months

Abstract

The objective of this proposal is to take a systematic approach to identifying the function of versatile acyl transferase (VAT) family members from Arabidopsis to define new activities. We aim to identify the biochemical function of ten selected members of the At VAT family. We will do this using a systematic functional genomics/metabolomics approach. We will isolate lines mutant for each VAT activity and characterise the changes in plant secondary metabolism as a result of loss of each activity. Such metabolic pheotypes will be defined by state-of-the-art GC/MS, LC/MS and LC/MS/MS technology. Establishing which metabolites have altered will allow us to deduce the reaction catalysed by each VAT. Activities will be confirmed by in vitro assays. We will also test whether modulation of the activity of VATs in plants gives rise to changes in natural product accumulation, and whether such traits offer increased tolerance to stresses, that may be useful traits for crop plants. We anticipate that the outputs from this activity will be: 1. A greater understanding of VAT function and a broad comparison of substrate specificity with amino acid primary structure in these proteins. 2. Development of methods based on bioinformatic analysis (with functional confirmation by mutagenesis), to allow prediction of the biochemical functions of new VAT genes discovered through EST and genome sequencing programmes. 3. An well-characterised enzymic resource that could be used in a variety of ways for crop and food improvement. 4. Case studies that assess the potential of this resource for engineering antioxidant accumulation in Arabidopsis and tobacco using VAT enzymes already characterised, and assessment of the effects of such changes on plant tolerance to stress. 5. Further testing of this resource through overexpression of newly characterised VATs from the programme to enhance the production of plant. (Joint with BB/C505824/1).

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

Associated awards:

BB/C505824/1 Functional genomics and metabolomics of the versatile acyl-CoA tansferase super-family of enzymes in plants

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