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Grundy, Cameron H S (2022) Roles of post-transcriptional modifications in Solanum lycopersicum. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

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Abstract

Methylation at the N6 position of internal adenosines (m6A) is known as the most prevalent and widespread modification in mRNA. In plants, m6A has roles in post-transcriptional gene control, influencing growth, development and reproduction. The function of these modifications is often mediated by RNA binding proteins containing a YT521-B homology (YTH) domain. These domains contain a hydrophobic pocket that can directly accommodate m6A residues. Despite studies demonstrating that m6A is crucial for plant development and multiple studies on mammalian YTH proteins, very little is known about YTH proteins in plants.

Here, we have identified that Solanum lycopersicum have some of the lowest number of YTH proteins in Plantae. We show that plants lacking YTHDF1, YTHDF2, YTHDF3 or YTHDF4 from Solanum lycopersicum, exhibit vegetative growth defects, including phenotypes which overlap with those identified in low m6A plant lines and respond differently to salt stress. In addition, we have produced several YTHDF double mutants, which demonstrate that each YTHDF protein have both redundant and specific functions in vivo. Finally, we demonstrate a novel in vitro randomised RNA-binding protein selection strategy, which has the potential to be used to identify key consensus sequences to further our understanding of complex processes. This strategy allowed us to identify that just like their phenotypes, each YTHDF protein in tomato show affinity for both unique and overlapping sequences in vitro. This work provides a platform for future advances in our understanding of these complex proteins.

Item Type:	Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (PhD)
Supervisors:	Fray, Rupert G Seymour, Graham
Keywords:	Solanum lycopersicum, Post-transcriptional modifications
Subjects:	Q Science > QK Botany > QK457 Spermatophyta. Phanerogams
Faculties/Schools:	UK Campuses > Faculty of Science > School of Biosciences
Item ID:	69238
Depositing User:	Grundy, Cameron
Date Deposited:	03 Aug 2022 04:40
Last Modified:	03 Aug 2022 04:40
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/69238

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