Transcription factors and quality traits

MYB transcription factors are involved in the regulation of many quality related traits, such as the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids, anthocyanins, volatiles, but also cell shape, and stress resilience (Allan and Espley, 2018). We are interested in the MYB TF family of Petunia, because of many individual genes it is not clear what they regulate. We are planning to use a CRISPR library to knock them out using phylogenic groups, i.e. use guideRNAs that target a specific group, and not just one gene. In addition, we want to use protoplast transformation and cell sorting to study targets of specific MYB transcription factors (Bargmann et al., 2013).

Used skills

Postharvest Biotech. Techniques:

• Tissue culture:
• Plant transformation: Stable, transient, protoplast transformation
• Molecular biology: DNA, RNA, RT-(q)PCR, Cloning
• Metabolite analysis: HPLC, GC-MS
• Enzyme assays
• Bioinformatics

Interested in doing a BSc or MSc thesis at HPP? Please contact the HPP student coordinator Katharina Hanika.