MSc Exit Seminar – Eshan Naik (Campbell lab)

MSc Exit Seminar

Tuesday June 14^th, 10:10 am – Room SW 403, University of Toronto at Scarborough

Eshan Naik (Campbell lab)

“A chemical genetics approach to explore anthocyanin regulation in nitrogen-deprived Arabidopsis seedlings“

Abstract

Plants often experience varying soil nitrogen levels during their life cycle, and adjust growth and development to accommodate these changes. A typical plant response to limiting nitrogen involves an increase in the production of anthocyanins. As such biochemical alterations have a profound impact on plant survival, there is interest in better understanding the molecular determinants that underpin these responses. In the present study, a chemical genetics approach was implemented to discover molecular components involved in the induction of anthocyanin biosynthesis, in response to altered nitrogen levels. Using a robust high-throughput screening method, a chemical library was screened to discover compounds capable of attenuating anthocyanin levels in nitrogen-deprived Arabidopsis seedlings. Chemical screens were successful in identifying four compounds that appear to mis-regulate the accumulation of anthocyanins during nitrogen deprivation. The impact of the compounds on the low-nitrogen response was characterized, and the results indicate that chemical application must occur at a specific developmental stage. Furthermore, low nitrogen-induction of anthocyanins is highly sensitive to chemical application, and chemicals appear to exert their effect throughout early seedling growth. While structure-activity relationships have been examined, mutational and genome-wide studies will bridge the gap in understanding the attenuation of the link between anthocyanin biosynthesis and nitrogen availability.