Author: Rana Muhammad AtifPublisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 326
Book Description
Legumes are not only indispensible for sustainable agriculture but are also a rich source of protein in food and feed for humans and animals, respectively. However, major proteins stored in legume seeds are poor in sulfur-containing amino acids, and may be accompanied by anti-nutritional factors causing low protein digestibility problems. In this regard, Medicago truncatula serves as a model legume to study legume seed development especially the phase of seed storage protein accumulation. As developing legume seeds are complex structures, a thorough knowledge of the morphogenesis of the seed and the characterization of regulatory mechanisms underlying the embryo development and seed filling of legumes is essential. Mutant studies have identified a DOF1147 (DNA-binding with One Finger) transcription factor belonging to the Zn-Finger family which was expressed in the endosperm at the transition period between embryogenesis and seed filling phase. During my PhD work, a number of transgene constructs were successfully generated for expression analysis of DOF1147 gene as well as the DOF1147 protein. A successful transformation protocol was also established for stable genetic transformation of M. truncatula. Subcellular localization studies have demonstrated that DOF1147 is a nuclear protein. A phylogenetic tree revealed different groups of DOF transcription factors with conserved domains in their protein sequence. In silico promoter analysis of putative target genes of DOF1147 identified cis-regulatory elements of various transcription factors along with auxin responsive elements (AuxREs) suggesting a possible role of auxin during seed development. A study of in vitro seed development under different hormone regimes has demonstrated the positive effect of auxin on kinetics of seed development in terms of gain in seed fresh weight and size, with NAA having a stronger effect than IBA. Using the cytomic approach, we further demonstrated the effect of auxin on the onset of endoreduplication in such seeds, which is the cytogenetic imprint of the transition between the cell division phase and the accumulation of storage products phase during seed development. As a whole, this work highlighted that the auxin treatments modulate the transition between mitotic cycles and endocycles in M. truncatula developing seeds by favouring sustained cell divisions while simultaneously prolonging endoreduplication.
