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Towards the Identification and Isolation of VvPNP

Thesis (MSc (Genetics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008.

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Main Author: Kerr, Mark Stuart
Other Authors: University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Agrisciences. Dept. of Genetics.
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch 2008
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access_status_str Open Access
author Kerr, Mark Stuart
author2 University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Agrisciences. Dept. of Genetics.
author_browse Kerr, Mark Stuart
University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Agrisciences. Dept. of Genetics.
author_facet University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Agrisciences. Dept. of Genetics.
Kerr, Mark Stuart
author_sort Kerr, Mark Stuart
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv University of Stellenbosch
description Thesis (MSc (Genetics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2486
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:45:31.220Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2008
publishDateRange 2008
publishDateSort 2008
publisher Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
publisherStr Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2486 Towards the Identification and Isolation of VvPNP Kerr, Mark Stuart University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Agrisciences. Dept. of Genetics. VvPNP Natriuretic Vitis Dissertations -- Genetics Theses -- Genetics Grapes -- Genetics Thesis (MSc (Genetics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. We have identified a novel plant natriuretic peptide (PNP) like gene in Vitis vinifera cultivars of Chardonnay and Pinotage. The transcript of the gene was isolated from young leaves indicating that the peptide may function within these organs of the plant. The 15 kDa peptide, which we have putatively called Vitis vinifera plant natriuretic peptide (VvPNP), was expressed in a bacterial system as a recombinant fusion protein. This protein shares sequence similarity to other recognised natriuretic peptides, and was largely identified by using the primary sequence of the well characterised plant natriuretic peptide (AtPNP-A) from the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana. Previous studies have identified PNPs across a range of plant species such as Dracena godseffiana, Hedera helix and Solanum tuberosum, where the biological activity associated with water and solute homeostasis has been proven. Instrumental to the functionality of these peptides is the conservation of two cysteine residues which form a disulphide bridge, of no less than 23 amino acids apart, creating a secondary ring structure. Alignment of the VvPNP and AtPNP-A primary structures indicates that the two cysteine residues necessary for physiological function in AtPNP-A are in conserved positions within VvPNP. Also 14 identical amino acids and 7 conservative amino acids aligned within the active domain of the AtPNP-A molecule. The putative natriuretic peptide also displays two diagnostic amino acids motifs characteristic in PNPs and one other molecule CjBAp12, which is associated with citrus blight. On a nucleotide level the VvPNP contains a 100bp intron which is also found within the genomic sequence of AtPNP-A. Plant natriuretic peptides have sequence similarities to expansins, molecules which directly modify the mechanical properties of cell walls leading to turgor-driven cell extension. Although PNPs do not contain a wall-binding domain, evidence does suggest an evolutionary relationship between expansins and PNP molecules because of these similarities. The target site for PNPs being the cell membrane and not the cell wall, and it is for this reason that PNPs affect protoplasts. Although VvPNP shares some similarity with the domain organisation of expansins it lacks the tryptophan rich C-terminal domain. This domain also makes expansins larger ( 25 kDa) than natriuretic peptides ( 14 kDa). Attempts to show functionality of the recombinant fusion protein GST:VvPNP were unsuccessful thus far. Further inquiries into the role that VvPNP plays in the homeostasis of grapevine are needed to elucidate the potential enhancement for this important economic crop. 2008-06-17T12:49:18Z 2010-06-01T08:49:59Z 2008-06-17T12:49:18Z 2010-06-01T08:49:59Z 2008-03 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2486 en University of Stellenbosch application/pdf Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
spellingShingle VvPNP
Natriuretic
Vitis
Dissertations -- Genetics
Theses -- Genetics
Grapes -- Genetics
Kerr, Mark Stuart
Towards the Identification and Isolation of VvPNP
title Towards the Identification and Isolation of VvPNP
title_full Towards the Identification and Isolation of VvPNP
title_fullStr Towards the Identification and Isolation of VvPNP
title_full_unstemmed Towards the Identification and Isolation of VvPNP
title_short Towards the Identification and Isolation of VvPNP
title_sort towards the identification and isolation of vvpnp
topic VvPNP
Natriuretic
Vitis
Dissertations -- Genetics
Theses -- Genetics
Grapes -- Genetics
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2486
work_keys_str_mv AT kerrmarkstuart towardstheidentificationandisolationofvvpnp