Abstract Detail

Functional Genetics/Genomics

Takahashi, Gemma [1], Akbari, Omar [2], Castelan, Ulysses [2], Hadadian, Mark [2], Le, Jonathan [1], Kelz, Jessica [2], Diessner, Elizabeth [2], Einstein, Elliott [2], Unhelkar, Megha [2], Kwok, Ashley [2], Sprague-Piercy, Marc [1], Woodcock, Sofiya [2], Pineda, Allison [2], Shabakesaz, Pauniz [2], Einstein, David [2], Garabedian, Alexandra [2], Alemayhu, Aden [2], Uribe, Jose [2], Martin, Rachel [2], Butts, Carter [3].

Differential expression, genome annotation, and enzyme discovery in Drosera capensis.

Recent developments in sequencing, annotation, and in silico modeling techniques have streamlined the enzyme discovery process, making them extremely adaptable biochemical tools. Agricultural, pharmaceutical, and other world markets rely on enzymes for their functional versatility. Proteases, for example, are protein-degrading enzymes whose remarkable specificity is useful in reproducing cleavage patterns for research purposes; similarly, chitinases find use as antifungals for their targeted degradation of chitin. Enzymes’ utility lies in their retained functionality under diverse biological conditions; we therefore apply an in silico pipeline to novel enzyme discovery in diverse organisms. Carnivorous plants present both the evolutionary and biochemical diversity sought in our studies. It is believed that digestion in carnivorous plants evolved from defense mechanisms, as the enzymes responsible for both are regulated by the jasmonate signaling pathway. This dichotomy, as well as the inherent stress of having an external stomach, has led to the evolution of biochemically novel enzymes. Here, we report the results of a multi-omics study that spans the enzymatic landscape of Drosera capensis, the Cape sundew. We focused first on the differential mRNA expression of enzymes during digestive behavior. We identified putative digestive enzymes by their increased expression in jasmonic acid-treated leaves when compared with a water control; we then characterized novel and known proteases, chitinases, and others via molecular modeling techniques. This study resulted in a transcriptome assembly that we used to more thoroughly annotate our existing D. capensis draft genome. We will discuss this annotated genome as it relates to enzyme expression, as well as novel discoveries made along the way. This study has given us an understanding of the enzymatic landscape in D. capensis and provides fodder for the development of these versatile biochemical tools.

1 - University of California, Irvine, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, 3205 McGaugh Hall, Irvine, CA, 92697, United States
2 - University of California, Irvine, Chemistry, 1120 Natural Sciences II, Irvine, CA, 92697, United States
3 - University of California, Irvine, California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology, 4100 Calit2 Building, Irvine, CA, 92697, United States

Keywords:
Enzyme Discovery
genome
transcriptome
bioinformatics
molecular identification
differential gene expression
Drosera capensis.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Number: FGG1004
Abstract ID:995
Candidate for Awards:Margaret Menzel Award