(800-115) Exploring the genetic diversity of Ketoacyl-CoA Synthetase (KCS) genes involved in plant fatty acid elongation across a diverse set of maize inbred lines
Undergraduate Researcher Iowa State University Department of Genetics, Development, and Cellular Biology Ames, Iowa
Body of Abstract: The cuticle produced by the plant epidermis performs many essential functions, including acting as a water barrier to seal in moisture, facilitating removal of debris, protecting against pests and pathogens, and shielding photosystems from excess UV radiation. The cuticle is comprised of a cutin matrix that is infused with and laid atop by cuticular waxes, which can include very long chain fatty acids, fatty aldehydes, alcohols, hydrocarbons, ketones and/or wax esters. The precursors of cuticular waxes are very long chain fatty (VLCF) acyl-CoAs. VLCF-acyl-CoAs are products of the Fatty Acid Elongation (FAE) pathway that operates in the endoplasmic reticulum of the plant cell. The first step in the FAE pathway is the condensation of a VLCF-acyl-CoA with malonyl-CoA, which is catalyzed by a 3-ketoacyl-CoA Synthetase (KCS) to form a 3-ketoacyl-CoA. There is a great deal of genetic redundancy for this step in the pathway, with 26 unique KCS genes present in the reference maize genome (inbred B73). In this study, we examine the genetic diversity of KCS genes across 26 genetically diverse inbred maize lines that are the parental founders of the Maize Community’s Nested Association Mapping (NAM) as well as three additional inbred lines of agronomic value (B104, Mo17, and W22). Importantly these maize inbred lines have been sequenced and exhibit structural variations when comparing across genomes, including the presence/absence of sequences, including genes. Using a suite of sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis tools, we are assessing whether the KCS gene family is dynamic in gene number across inbred lines and the breadth of genetic diversity that exists among these genes. This work will shed light on the genetic diversity of KCS genes and provide the foundation for studying potential diversity in function across the gene family.