MSc Defence: Emma Aller

Name of MSc candidate

Emma Aller

Title of thesis

Epigenetic regulation of plant defence
– Assessing the impact of DNA methylations on glucosinolates

Summary

The aim of the master thesis is to investigate whether the defense compounds glucosinolates are epigenetically regulated in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, which would allow the plant to immediately protect itself from biotic and abiotic stress factors. Epigenetic regulation comprises all alterations in gene activity that cannot be explained by changes in DNA sequences, e.g. changes in DNA methylation patterns. These epigenetic marks can even be passed on and provide the next generation with an increased resistance compared to progeny from plants without these epigenetic changes.

To test thehypothesis that the glucosinolate pathway in Arabidopsis can serve as a model pathway to study epigenetic regulation in plants, Emma carried out an epigenetic Quantitative Trait Loci (epiQTL) mapping. After high-throughput glucosinolate profiling of the mapping population by UPLC-TQ-MS/MS, she was able to link differentially methylated regions in the plant genome to differences in glucosinolate profiles. The project has added to our understanding of how plants cope with environmental stress across generations.

External examiner

Stig Uggerhøj Andersen, Århus University

Supervisor

Meike Burow, DynaMo Center, University of Copenhagen