Life Sciences & Biotechnology
Title : | Identification of stress-associated miPEPs in tomato and elucidation of their potential therapeutic application |
Area of research : | Life Sciences & Biotechnology |
Principal Investigator : | Dr. Jayanti Jodder, Presidency University, West Bengal |
Timeline Start Year : | 2023 |
Timeline End Year : | 2026 |
Contact info : | jayanti.dbs@presiuniv.ac.in |
Equipments : | "Trans-blot Semi Dry System
Plant Growth Chamber
Benchtop Incubator
Nanodrop Spectrophotometer" |
Details
Executive Summary : | miRNAs are the group of important post-transcriptional regulators of genes’ expression. Maintenance of their homeostasis in cells is crucial for their proper function. miPEPs are the newly identified, MIR gene encoded, small peptides regulate the transcription of MIR gene from which it is generated and thus can regulate the biogenesis of that miRNA. Available data showed that upregulation of miPEP in cell can upregulate the expression of that specific MIR gene transcription. Moreover, exogenous application of miPEP can also regulate the expression of that specific miRNA. These observations lead us to hypothesize that, the expressions of miRNA which are the regulators of different stress responses in plant can be regulated by miPEP application without any genetic engineering method. And thus, we can increase to stress tolerance in plant. Therefore, identifications of miPEPs and their functional validation is utmost important. In this project we have selected Solanum lycopersicum (Tomato) as our model plant, as tomato is an economically important vegetable crop rich in several important nutrients. Also, since this is a fruit bearing crop, study on fruits can be easily done using this plant. To identify the miPEPs initially bioinformatic based prediction would be done. Then the predicted miPEPs would be validated by Western blotting experiment. To validate their function in regulation of MIR gene transcription, miPEP overexpression and knockdown lines of tomato plant will be generated and the comparative analysis of the expression of miPEP, pri-miRNA, mature-miRNA and their target genes would be done. Alternatively, miPEP will be synthesized and applied exogenously in miPEP knockdown line and check if it can complement the endogenous miPEP. To investigate their potential role in stress response both overexpression and knockdown line would be exposed to the specific stress and the responses would be analysed at both phenotypic and genotypic level. Alternatively, their therapeutic application would be investigated by exogenous application of specific stress related miPEP in plant under stress then the progression of stress responses will be studied. It is expected that the knowledge obtained from this study can be utilized to design protocol for modulation of stress related MIR gene transcription thereby to module the mature miRNA production and ultimately to increase the stress tolerance in plant. |
Total Budget (INR): | 51,29,694 |
Organizations involved