Genética Química aplicada a la señalización por giberelinas y fosfato en Arabidopsis

Chemical Genetics is a powerful approach that uses small molecules to probe gene function. In this Theses, we have used it to identify compounds that help us to i) dissect a plant signaling pathway, and ii) to solve a problem in agriculture. In both cases, we have screened a library of 10.000 compounds. Gibberellins are plant hormones that regulate multiple transitions in plant development and that allow them to tune their growth and development according to the environmental conditions. Gibberellin signaling proceeds through the degradation of DELLA proteins, the negative regulators of the pathway that regulate gene expression through the interaction with multiple transcription factors. To further dissect this pathway, we have sought to identify compounds with gibberellin-like activity affecting only a subset of processes. For that purpose, we have performed two screenings, in one of them we have searched for compounds affecting cell expansion in Arabidopsis seedlings, and in the other for compounds that prevent the interaction of a DELLA protein with a particular transcription factor in yeast two-hybrid assays. We have identified compounds with the expected behavior: compounds that activate the pathways downstream of the receptor, and others that prevent interaction with ARR1, BZR1, PIF4 or KAN1. Phosphorus is an essential element for plants and it is only absorbed in phosphate form, which is obtained from limited, not renewable sources and for which there is no alternative. As consequence, the cost of phosphate application in the field is steadily increasing.
[Valencia: 2017]

Compartir: