The defense will also be live streamed using Zoom. The host of the session will moderate the technicalities while the chair of the defence will moderate the disputation.
The event opens for participation just before it starts, and closes for new participants approximately 15 minutes after it has begun.
Trial lecture: 'Short tandem repeats in genomes: their emergence and impact on adaptation of plants and animals'
Time and place: Nov. 29, 2024 10:15 AM, Nucleus, Bikuben, Kristine Bonnevies hus
Main research findings:
Over the last two decades research has shown that short tandem repeats (STRs) have regulatory potential, with changes in STR length influencing gene regulation and protein function. This thesis therefore investigates the occurrence and functionality of length variable STRs in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana).
To assess STR variability A. thaliana plants were grown at different temperatures and their genomes analysed. Heat stress resulted in a higher frequency of STR length changes, especially in certain motifs, suggesting STRs might aid adaptation to environmental challenges.
Analysing wild A. thaliana genomes revealed that protein-coding STRs are located in regions associated with disordered proteins involved in DNA, RNA, and protein binding. For example, the length variation in the glutamine repeat of the transcription factor TCP14, affected gene regulation, and correlations between environmental parameters and STR length supported the role of STRs in species divergence and adaptability.
Additionally, STR variation in CRK6, a gene involved in immune response, was investigated. While differences in membrane location related to STR length were observable, the effect on immune responses remained inconclusive.
Overall, the results demonstrate the important role of STR variability in gene regulation, protein function and environmental adaptation.
Adjudication committee
Principal investigator Filip Kolář, Department of Botany, Charles University, Prague
Assoc. Prof. Daniela Jorgelina Sueldo, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim
Prof. Paul E. Grini, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo
Chair of defense
Prof. Anne Krag Brysting, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo
Supervisors
Prof. Kjetill Sigurd Jakobsen, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo
Prof. Melinka Butenko, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo
Researcher Sissel Jentoft, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo