MSc defence: Peter Vig Millard

Name of MSc candidate

Peter Vig Millard

Title of thesis

Structure-function relationship of MYB transcription factors in Arabidopsis thaliana

Summary

MYB proteins comprise one of the largest transcription factor families in higher plants and are involved in regulating plant-specific processes on all levels, including primary and secondary metabolism, growth and development, and both abiotic and biotic environmental interactions. As the DNA-binding domain is highly conserved, much of the functional divergence is more likely to result from the rest of the protein sequence, which is predicted to be intrinsically disordered. Intrinsic disorder is a structural feature of especially many regulatory proteins of higher organisms, a contrast to the normal structure-function paradigm, where highly compact, stable conformations convey specific molecular functions. Instead, intrinsic disorder provides dynamic structures and functions that could be important in regulatory and signaling proteins for fine-tuning of metabolic programs, cellular activity, and environmental responses.

A small, conserved sub-group of plant R2R3 MYB transcription factors controls expression of glucosinolate biosynthetic genes. This family provides a model system for investigating the structure-function relationship of plant R2R3 MYB transcription factors, as glucosinolates serve as a model pathway in the model organism for flowering plants, Arabidopsis thaliana. In this project, CD spectroscopy, analytical gel filtration and NMR spectroscopy were used to investigate structural features of MYB transcription factors controlling glucosinolate biosynthesis.

External examiner

Lars Kobberøe Skov, Novozymes

Supervisor

Meike Burow, DynaMo Center, University of Copenhagen