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Understanding Plant-Cyanobacterial Symbiosis: My BBSI Research Journey

During my BBSI experience in summer 2008, I researched the symbiotic relationship between Gunnera manicata and Nostoc punctiforme, focusing on the effects of nitrogen fertilizers and the role of flavonoids in this interaction. My goal was to elucidate host genes critical for plant-cyanobacterial symbiosis. I investigated how flavonoids contribute to cellular processes like auxin accumulation and cell division, and employed RNA interference techniques to enhance flavonoid production in mutant Gunnera plants. My research, supported by VCU and NSF, aims to deepen our understanding of these complex plant relationships.

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Understanding Plant-Cyanobacterial Symbiosis: My BBSI Research Journey

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  1. My Summer 2008 BBSI Experience By Natasha Williams Mentor: Wan-Ling Chiu

  2. Better Understanding of Plant-Cyanobacterial Symbiosis The Overall Goal of my Research is to Achieve:

  3. Gunnera and Nostoc’s Symbiosis Gunneramanicata Nostoc punctiforme

  4. Negative effects of N2 fertilizers

  5. Elucidating Host Genes Critical to Plant-Cyanobacterial Symbiosis • Investigating the Role of Flavonoids in G. manicata and N. punctiforme symbiosis

  6. What are roles of flavonoids in the development of plant-cyanobacteria symbiosis ???

  7. 10 mM nitrate 0.1 mM nitrate

  8. N. Punctiforme traveling towards Gunnera seedling.

  9. Flavonoids • Polyphenolic compounds with 15 Carbon atoms, 2 benzene rings connected by a 3 carbon chain.

  10. N N - - starvation starvation Myb Myb - - transcription factor transcription factor Flavonoid Flavonoid synthesis synthesis Remobilization of nutrients Remobilization of nutrients from leaves to the stem from leaves to the stem High flavonoids at the gland gland primodia primodia inhibit inhibit auxin efflux auxin efflux Localized auxin accumulation Localized auxin accumulation Activation of cell division and gland development Activation of cell division and gland development 10 mM nitrate 0.1 mM nitrate

  11. Solving the Mystery • Plan: - Expose flavonoid-deficit Gunnera mutant to cyanobacteria under N2-deprived conditions. Gunnera Plant Mutant Gunnera Plant Expose to N2-deficient environment in presence of cyanobacteria

  12. RNAi

  13. Solving the Mystery • Methods: • Discovered Gunnera genes responsible for flavonoid production.  • Correctly insert genes w/n specialized RNAi constructs. • Infect plant with construct via agrobacterium-mediated transfer. • Grow up plant and subject to conditions conducive for symbiosis to occur. Last Summer Almost finish this step

  14. Acknowledgments • God • VCU’s Bioinformatics & Bioengineering Institute • National Science Foundation • Jeff Elhai, BBSI Director • Wan-Ling Chiu, my mentor • The Chiu Lab

  15. Questions?

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