Regulation of the stress response mediated by lysine catabolism

• Grant number: 24/15620-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: March 16, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Plant Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Arruda
• Grantee: Ana Lúcia Mendes Pinheiro
• Host Institution: Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética (CBMEG). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Company: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética (CBMEG)
• Associated research grant: 16/23218-0 - The Genomics for Climate Change Research Center, AP.PCPE

Abstract

In this project, we aim to unravel the contribution and regulation of two lysine catabolism pathways, the saccharopine (SacPath) and lysine dehydrogenase (LYSDH) pathways, in plant stress responses. LYSDH genes from extremophilic bacteria, which were previously shown to be stress-inducible, will be used to assemble constructs for overexpression in maize. Transgenic maize plants overexpressing LYSDHs will be phenotyped for abiotic and biotic stresses. To inspect the properties of lysine catabolic enzymes, recombinant LYSDH and saccharopine dehydrogenase (SDH) will be produced in E. coli and characterized for their kinetic properties. To gain insight into the role of SacPath in the response to abiotic and biotic stress, maize null mutants for the bifunctional enzyme LKR/SDH were acquired and will be phenotyped. We hope to contribute to the understanding of lysine catabolism, seeking to develop crops that are resilient to the challenges posed by climate change.