The Pentatricopeptide Repeat (PPR) gene family produces RNA-binding proteins that target organellar transcripts. The PPR family is expanded in land plants, with nearly 450 genes identified in Arabidopsis thaliana. In plants with a Cytoplasmic Male Sterility (CMS) phenotype, members of the PPR family can act as a RESTORER OF FERTILITY...
Vegetative propagation allows the amplification of selected genotypes for research,
breeding, and commercial planting. However, efficient in vitro regeneration and
genetic transformation remains a major obstacle to research and commercial
application in many plant species. Our aims are to improve knowledge of gene
regulatory circuits important to meristem organization, and...
European hazelnut, Corylus avellana L., is the only economically important nut crop
in the family Betulaceae. One of the threats to the hazelnut industry in the Pacific
Northwest is the fungal disease eastern filbert blight (EFB) caused by the
pyrenomycete Anisogramma anomala. Host genetic resistance to EFB identified in the...
Eukaryotic small RNA (~20-30 nucleotides) are diverse regulatory molecules that repress gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, defend hosts against invading viruses and defend genomes against selfish DNA elements. Small RNA populations are studied by high-throughput sequencing of the total small RNA fraction isolated from cells, however, the...
Gene synthesis is an important tool in molecular biology. However, the current
bench-top method of gene synthesis is a costly, time-intensive and reagent-consuming
process. Lab-on-chip technology has many benefits over current bench top methods.
Microchips consume smaller reagent volumes, are reusable and less expensive to make.
This thesis explores the...
Substantial scientific investment has been directed towards understanding factors that influence distribution patterns and animals' remarkable ability for precise orientation and navigation, yet fundamental gaps in our knowledge remain. In my dissertation, I applied emerging genetic technologies to conduct a top-down and bottom-up investigation of animal movement and cue perception....
In eukaryotes, the defined loci on each chromosome, the centromeres, accomplish
the critical task of correct cell division. In some organisms, centromeres are
composed of a euchromatic central core region embedded in a stretch of
heterochromatin and the inheritance and maintenance of centromeres are controlled
by dynamic epigenetic phenomena. Although...
Mutation of repetitive DNA by repeat-induced point mutation (RIP) is a process that occurs in many filamentous fungi of the Ascomycota during the sexual cycle. Concurrently, direct DNA repeats are often deleted by homologous recombination at high frequency during the sexual cycle. Thus, the processes of RIP and deletion compete...
RNA interference pathways can involve amplification of secondary siRNAs by RNA-dependent RNA polymerases. In plants, RDR6-dependent secondary siRNAs, including transacting siRNAs (tasiRNAs), arise from transcripts targeted by some microRNAs (miRNAs). In the case of TAS3 tasiRNA formation, ARGONAUTE7 (AGO7)-miR390 complexes interact with primary transcripts at two sites, resulting in recruitment...
There is limited information available on production of trailing blackberry, particularly certified organic plantings, which are of interest to growers as there is increased consumer demand and a price premium over conventionally-produced fruit. Various production strategies were evaluated for their effect on yield, biomass production, carbon (C), and nutrient concentrations...