Hevein-like peptides in plants : discovery, characterization and molecular diversity
Hevein-like peptides belong to a family of chitin-binding, cystine-knotted peptides. Based on the number of cysteine residues in hevein-like peptides they can be divided into three sub-classes, namely, 6C-, 8C- and 10C- hevein-like peptides. The objectives of my thesis are to isolate and characteriz...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Theses and Dissertations |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2016
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/69393 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Institution: | Nanyang Technological University |
| Language: | English |
| Summary: | Hevein-like peptides belong to a family of chitin-binding, cystine-knotted peptides. Based on the number of cysteine residues in hevein-like peptides they can be divided into three sub-classes, namely, 6C-, 8C- and 10C- hevein-like peptides. The objectives of my thesis are to isolate and characterize novel hevein-like peptides and to study their distribution and evolution in plants. From two herbs, Alternanthera sessilis and Moringa oleifera, six novel 6C-hevein-like peptides and three novel 8C-hevein-like peptides were isolated and purified, respectively. In addition, we gained insights into their chitin-binding interaction, anti-fungal activity and biosynthesis pathway.
Using an in silico approach, a total of 385 novel hevein-like peptides were found in 124 plant families including bryophytes and gymnosperms. In conclusion, my thesis expands the existing knowledge of hevein-like peptides regarding their structure; function and biosynthesis which may help to develop robust anti-fungal agents and transgenic plants with increased specificity and resistance to fungal infections. |
|---|