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ORCID
N/A
Access Type
Open Access Thesis
Document Type
thesis
Embargo Period
5-13-2025
Degree Program
Molecular & Cellular Biology
Degree Type
Master of Science (M.S.)
Year Degree Awarded
2014
Month Degree Awarded
September
Abstract
In an effort to engineer Camelina sativa for enhanced oil yield and tolerance to abiotic stresses, we have cloned and overexpressed Camelina γ-Glutamyl Cyclotransferase (GGCT2;1); a gene involved in oxidative stress tolerance via glutathione homeostasis and Wrinkled 1; a transcription factor that regulates genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis to increase triacylglycerol (TAG) accumulation in seeds. The GGCT gene family in Camelina consists of three genes-GGCT1, GGCT2;1 and GGCT2;2. Camelina GGCT genes showed differential expression under oxidative stress caused as a result of exposure to various abiotic stresses. The GGCT2;1 gene, which showed strong up-regulation, was selected as a candidate gene for further characterization. RT-PCR analysis of overexpressed GGCT2;1 in leaf tissues from individual T1 seedlings shows increased transcript levels compared to wildtype. T1 plants overexpressing GGCT2;1 are maturing in the greenhouse and T2 seeds from T1 plants will be used for further analysis for oxidative stress tolerance. The Camelina WRl1 gene showed expression in the early stages of seed development. WRl1 was overexpressed under a seed-specific promoter and 10 independent T1 lines showing DsRed fluorescence were selected. These T1 plants are growing in the greenhouse. In future studies, after characterization of T3 lines of each gene, homozygous T3 lines will be cross pollinated to combine the expression of both genes in single line. These lines will be subject to further analyses for their tolerance to various abiotic stresses and enhanced oil yield. We will compare individual transgenic lines’ total seed weight, total biomass and total oil accumulation per plant with that of wildtype under normal and oxidative stress conditions.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7275/6051124
First Advisor
Om Parkash Dhankher
Recommended Citation
Ablordeppey, Kenny, "Engineering Camelina sativa for Biofuel Production via increasing oil yield and tolerance to abiotic stresses" (2014). Masters Theses. 63.
https://doi.org/10.7275/6051124
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/masters_theses_2/63