Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-12-03Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:09:12Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 farias_et_me_botfca.pdf: 343928 bytes, checksum: d998c3f6cbfb1c91556f0445b48bd677 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A germinação de sementes de café (Coffea arabica L.) é lenta e irregular, controlada por eventos que ocorrem, simultaneamente, no embrião e no endosperma. Embora os referidos eventos estejam determinados, ainda são necessários estudos sobre a fisiologia molecular, para auxiliar na avaliação da qualidade fisiológica das sementes durante a germinação. O objetivo do trabalho foi realizar estudos fisiológicos e moleculares durante a germinação de sementes embebidas em água e em ácido abscísico (ABA) na concentração de 1000 μM. Durante o trabalho foi determinado o teor de água, a curva de embebição, a germinação, o crescimento do embrião e a expressão dos genes associados com o crescimento do embrião e com a degradação do endosperma micropilar. Para tanto, embriões e os endospermas micropilares foram isolados para a extração de RNA total e síntese de cDNA. “Primers” específicos foram desenhados para o estudo da expressão gênica em PCR em tempo real. Foi estudada a expressão dos genes actina, ciclina e α-expansina, associados ao crescimento do embrião, e α-galactosidase, β-manosidase e endo-β-mananase, associados à degradação do endosperma micropilar. A curva de embebição apresentou um padrão trifásico. A primeira semente de café germinou com cinco dias de embebição e 50% de germinação ocorreram no décimo dia de embebição. A expressão dos genes associados com o crescimento do embrião, tais como actina, α-expansina e quinase dependente de ciclina, aumentou durante a germinação em água e inibiu parcialmente a expressão destes genes quando tratados com ABA. A expressão de β-manosidase e endo-β-mananase aumentou durante a embebição em água e ABA inibiu completamente a expressão. No entanto, α-galactosidase parece ter a expressão mais constitutiva durante a germinação em água e é menos influenciada por ABA, em comparação com outras enzimas estudadas / Germination of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) seed is slow and uneven. The germination is a net result of events that occur simultaneously in the embryo and endosperm under the control of ABA. The aim of the study was to perform physiological and molecular studies during germination of seeds imbibed in water and 1000 μM abscisic acid (ABA). We studied the expression of the genes ciclin, α-expansin and cyclin-dependent of kinase in the embryo and α-galactosidase, β-mannosidase, endo-β-mannanase in the micropylar endosperm. The first coffee seed germinate at five days of imbibition and 50% germinate at tenth day of imbibition. Coffee embryo grew inside the seed pior radicle protrusion and ABA inhibited the embryo grow as well as radicle protrusion. The expression of the genes associated with the growth of the embryo such as ciclin, α-expansin and cyclin-dependent of kinase increased during germination and ABA partially inhibited the expression of these genes. The expression of β-mannosidase and endo-β-mannanase increased during imbibitions in water and ABA completely inhibited its expression. However, α-galactosidase seems to have a more constitutive expression during germination in water and it is less affected by ABA as compared with other enzymes studied

No description available.

The plant hormone, abscisic acid (ABA), has previously been shown to have an impact on the resistance or susceptibility of plants to pathogens. In this thesis, it was shown that ABA had a regulatory effect on an extensive array of plant defence responses in three different plant and pathogen interaction combinations as well as following the application of an abiotic elicitor. In unique studies using ABA deficient mutants of Arabidopsis, exogenous ABA addition or ABA biosynthesis inhibitor application and simulated drought stress, ABA was shown to have a profound effect on the outcome of interactions between plants and pathogens of differing lifestyles and from different kingdoms. The systems used included a model plant and an important agricultural species: Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) and Peronospora parasitica (a biotrophic Oomycete pathogen), Arabidopsis and Pseudomonas syringae pathovar tomato (a biotrophic bacterial pathogen) and an unrelated plant species, soybean (Glycine max) and Phytophthora sojae (a hemibiotrophic Oomycete pathogen), Generally, a higher than basal endogenous ABA concentration within plant tissues at the time of avirulent pathogen inoculation, caused an interaction shift towards what phenotypically resembled susceptibility. Conversely, a lower than basal endogenous ABA concentration in plants inoculated with a virulent pathogen caused a shift towards resistance. An extensive suppressive effect of ABA on defence responses was revealed by a range of techniques that included histochemical, biochemical and molecular approaches. A universal effect of ABA on suppression or induction of the phenylpropanoid pathway via regulation of the key entry point gene, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), when stimulated by biotic or abiotic elicitors was shown. ABA also influenced a wide variety of other defence-related components such as: the development of a hypersensitive response (HR), the accumulation of the reactive oxyden species, hydrogen peroxide and the cell wall strengthening compounds lignin and callose, accumulation of SA and the phytoalexin, glyceollin and the transcription of the SA-dependent pathogenesis- related gene (PR-1). The near genome-wide microarray gene expression analysis of an ABA induced susceptible interaction also revealed an yet unprecedented insight into the great diversity of defence responses that were influenced by ABA that included: disease resistance like proteins, antimicrobial proteins as well as phenylpropanoid and tryptophan pathway enzymes. Subtle differences were found in the number and type of defence responses that were regulated by ABA in each type of plant and pathogen interaction that was studied. This thesis has clearly identified in plant/pathogen interactions previously unknown and important roles for ABA in the regulation of many defence responses.

The developmental programs of maturing seed and fruit in pea (Pisum sativum L.) are tightly controlled by the interactions of several phytohormones, including gibberellins (GAs), auxins, and abscisic acid (ABA). To more fully understand these hormone networks and their roles in controlling development, transcription profiles of GA metabolism genes and metabolite profiles of key GAs, auxins, and ABA were determined in developing seeds, and histological studies were employed to correlate physiology and hormone metabolism. Data suggest that bioactive GA stimulates several aspects of seed growth, and ABA appears to promote bioactive GA1 synthesis in rapidly growing seed coats, and inhibit GA biosynthesis in the embryo axes of maturing embryos. Two putative auxin receptor genes were cloned, and their transcription profiles examined in developing seed and pericarp tissues. Pericarp PsAFB6A transcription was responsive to auxin and seed signals, indicating a potential role for the modulation of auxin sensitivity in fruit development.

Graduation date: 1994

This project was expected to contribute to the understanding of abscisic acid (ABA) perception in plants through identification of new ABA-binding proteins. The novel, biotinylated ABA derivative PBI686 (of biological activity comparable to natural ABA) has served as an affinity probe for isolation of ABA-binding proteins. Photoaffinity labeling in conjunction with affinity chromatography (streptavidin-biotin based) was used for specific identification of target proteins from complex mixtures of cytosolic and membrane-bound proteins. Proteins of interest were identified by Mass Spectrometry through peptide mass fingerprinting and MS/MS ion search.<p> Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) was identified as an ABA binding partner, and its interaction with ABA was initially confirmed by its ability to block the photoaffinity labeling reaction with PBI686. In addition, Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) experiments with ABA and Rubisco were performed, which provided further evidence for selective interaction between the two binding partners, with a very small preference towards (+)-ABA over (-)-ABA. SPR has also yielded the value of equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) being 5 nM for (+)-ABA and 7 nM for (-)-ABA. This was further confirmed by [3H] (±)-ABA binding assays, which have also shown that non-radiolabeled (+)-ABA and (-)-ABA (at concentration 1000 fold higher) were able to displace [3H] (±)-ABA from binding to Rubisco. Compounds other than ABA such as PA (phaseic acid) or trans-(+)-ABA were not able to displace [3H] (±)-ABA, which has suggested the selectivity of binding. Further, Rubisco enzymatic activity in the absence of ABA was compared to that in the presence of ABA at various concentrations. The results have clearly indicated the effect of ABA on Rubiscos enzymatic activity. This was reflected on the enzymes Km values being increased by seven fold in the presence of 10 mM ABA and 1 mM substrate (RuBP). The interpretation of changes in enzyme kinetics upon inhibition by ABA most resembles allosteric inhibition. The biological function of this newly discovered interaction is interpreted as ABAs ability to regulate plant growth during abiotic stress by its direct action on the photosynthetic machinery - hypothesis often suggested in the literature.

Graduation date: 1992

This project was expected to contribute to the understanding of abscisic acid (ABA) perception in plants through identification of new ABA-binding proteins. The novel, biotinylated ABA derivative PBI686 (of biological activity comparable to natural ABA) has served as an affinity probe for isolation of ABA-binding proteins. Photoaffinity labeling in conjunction with affinity chromatography (streptavidin-biotin based) was used for specific identification of target proteins from complex mixtures of cytosolic and membrane-bound proteins. Proteins of interest were identified by Mass Spectrometry through peptide mass fingerprinting and MS/MS ion search.<p> Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) was identified as an ABA binding partner, and its interaction with ABA was initially confirmed by its ability to block the photoaffinity labeling reaction with PBI686. In addition, Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) experiments with ABA and Rubisco were performed, which provided further evidence for selective interaction between the two binding partners, with a very small preference towards (+)-ABA over (-)-ABA. SPR has also yielded the value of equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) being 5 nM for (+)-ABA and 7 nM for (-)-ABA. This was further confirmed by [3H] (±)-ABA binding assays, which have also shown that non-radiolabeled (+)-ABA and (-)-ABA (at concentration 1000 fold higher) were able to displace [3H] (±)-ABA from binding to Rubisco. Compounds other than ABA such as PA (phaseic acid) or trans-(+)-ABA were not able to displace [3H] (±)-ABA, which has suggested the selectivity of binding. Further, Rubisco enzymatic activity in the absence of ABA was compared to that in the presence of ABA at various concentrations. The results have clearly indicated the effect of ABA on Rubiscos enzymatic activity. This was reflected on the enzymes Km values being increased by seven fold in the presence of 10 mM ABA and 1 mM substrate (RuBP). The interpretation of changes in enzyme kinetics upon inhibition by ABA most resembles allosteric inhibition. The biological function of this newly discovered interaction is interpreted as ABAs ability to regulate plant growth during abiotic stress by its direct action on the photosynthetic machinery - hypothesis often suggested in the literature.

Thesis (B.S.) Magna Cum Laude--Butler University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 29-30).

Embryogenesis in plants, as in animals, requires the regulated expression of sets of genes involved in developmental processes. To gain insight into the processes regulating gene expression during embryogenesis differential screening was used to identify embryo-specific sequences in a cDNA library constructed from Zea mays embryo RNA. Four embryo-specific sequences and one constitutive sequence were characterized further by RNA blot hybridization and DNA sequence determination. The constitutive sequence and two of the embryo-specific sequences were found to encode parts of the previously-reported chloroplast 23S rRNA, Oleosin KD-18, and RAB-17 genes. Two sequences, named Emb5 and Emb564, were found to encode novel maize homologs of a gene expressed during late embryogenesis in a wide range of seed plants. These 5 genes exhibited differential temporal and spatial accumulation during development. Moreover, analysis of RNA from cultured embryos suggested that 4 of these genes were regulated by abscisic acid. The ABA-responsive genes could be divided into 3 classes, based on their developmental expression, tissue-specificity, and sensitivity to ABA. Antibodies raised against a $ beta$-galactosidase:EMB564 fusion protein were used to analyze the accumulation of the EMB564 and/or EMB5 proteins. These polyclonal antibodies detected one or several polypeptides with a molecular weight less than 14 kD which exhibited patterns of developmental accumulation and regulation similar to Emb5 and Emb564 transcripts.