Changes in the metabolism during zygotic and somatic embryogenesis of Araucaria angustifolia

• Grant number: 17/16667-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: November 02, 2017
• End date: January 01, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Applied Botany
• Principal Investigator: Eny Iochevet Segal Floh
• Grantee: Bruno Viana Navarro
• Supervisor: Ana Paula Alonso
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Ohio State University, Columbus, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 14/26888-0 - Biochemical markers associated with carbohydrate metabolism during Araucaria angustifolia zygotic and somatic embryogenesis, BP.DD

Abstract

Embryogenesis is a crucial developmental process within the life cycle of plants. The physiological and molecular processes controlling zygotic embryo development in angiosperms are mediated by hierarchically organized programs of gene expression, protein folding and metabolic activity. Despite the overwhelming information available about the molecular control of the embryogenic processes in angiosperms, little is known about these processes in gymnosperms species, such as Araucaria angustifolia. This native conifer is currently classified as a critically endangered species and the seeds are recalcitrant to storage, since they maintain high levels of water and active metabolic rates at the mature stage, resulting in a rapid loss of viability, so conservation strategies are restricted. Beside this, much remains to be learnt about the regulatory mechanisms involved in plant embryo development, and particularly the early stages of embryogenesis. In this context, in vitro somatic embryogenesis is recognized as not only a method for regenerating entire plants, but also as a potential system for analyzing the regulation of gene expression, and the metabolite and morphological changes that occur during embryo development. Recently, the transcriptome and proteome databases were developed to A. angustifolia. Both databases can allow us to provide insights into putative genetic determinants that contribute to the embryogenesis process. Thus, a comparative metabolomics analysis will be performed, in order to understand the metabolic changes governing embryogenesis. Three zygotic developmental stages and two somatic A. angustifolia cell lines with contrasting embryogenic potential will be analyzed to identify the changes in metabolism that control the regulation of carbon partitioning through central metabolism. The metabolome profile will consist of biochemical composition and intracellular metabolites, which will be assessed for each sample. The results will be integrated with transcriptome and proteome databases, and they will provide basic and applied information for plant biology. (AU)