Comparative transcriptomics and proanthocyanidin metabolism in pea (Pisum sativum) seed coat

atmire.migration.oldid1941
dc.contributor.advisorRo, Dae-Kyun
dc.contributor.authorFerraro, Kiva
dc.date.accessioned2014-02-07T20:03:21Z
dc.date.available2015-02-08T08:00:22Z
dc.date.embargolift2017-02-07T08:00:00Z
dc.date.issued2014-02-07
dc.date.submitted2014en
dc.description.abstractPlants produce a vast array of specialized compounds known as secondary metabolites, which were originally thought to be non-essential for plant survival. However, we now know that secondary metabolites play integral roles in plant defense, signalling, reproduction and more. Proanthocyanidins (PAs) are a class of flavonoid polymers derived from the phenylpropanoid pathway. PAs accumulate in the seed coat, bark, and leaves of many plants and are believed to play a role in plant defense. Recent evidence of health benefits associated with PA consumption has spurred new research interests in PA biosynthesis. Many of the studies of seed coat PA biosynthesis have been conducted in non-crop species that produce a limited variety of PAs. Pea (Pisum sativum) offers a number of unique advantages for PA research. Peas produce large seed coats, which are easy to isolate. Dry peas are an important source of nutrition for both humans and livestock, enabling research integration into the human diet and commercial agriculture. Finally, centuries of breeding have produced a wide variety of pea cultivars, making pea a valuable phenotypic and genetic resource for plant research. Despite these advantages, PA biosynthesis in pea has not been well characterized. This work presents the seed coat PA chemical profile of three pea cultivars and the biochemical characterization of two PA branch point enzymes, anthocyanidin reductase and leucoanthocyanidin reductase, from pea. In addition, the seed coat transcriptomes of these three varieties were compared to those of two varieties lacking PAs in an effort to elucidate novel genetic mechanisms relating to PA biosynthesis. This comparative transcriptomic analysis was expanded to study general seed phenotypic differences between pea cultivars. Two target genes were identified; one related to seed weight and another to PAs, the latter of which was further characterized.en_US
dc.description.embargoterms12 monthsen_US
dc.identifier.citationFerraro, K. (2014). Comparative transcriptomics and proanthocyanidin metabolism in pea (Pisum sativum) seed coat (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/25368en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/25368
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11023/1373
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.facultyGraduate Studies
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subjectBioinformatics
dc.subjectBiology--Molecular
dc.subjectBiochemistry
dc.subject.classificationproanthocyanidinsen_US
dc.subject.classificationpisum sativumen_US
dc.subject.classificationpeaen_US
dc.subject.classificationtranscriptomicsen_US
dc.subject.classificationcondensed tanninsen_US
dc.titleComparative transcriptomics and proanthocyanidin metabolism in pea (Pisum sativum) seed coat
dc.typedoctoral thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineBiological Sciences
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
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