Department of Your Department

Student of the Month (June 2009)


Name: : Nicole Juba (juban at vt.edu)

Research project: Development of a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for evaluation of folate distribution in peanuts to have a baseline for comparison to peanuts that have been metabolically engineered for high folate content using IP free DNA components and gene transfer technologies

Advisor: Elizabeth Grabau

Departmental affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology Physiology and Weed Science

Anticipated defense date: March 2011

Project description:

My project focuses on folate biofortification in legumes to increase vitamin B9 content in seeds. Deficiency in folate is correlated with cancer, cardiovascular disease, anemia, and most notably birth defects. The folate biosynthesis pathway in plants is divided into two branches. For my project I have chosen to modify the first step in each branch by over-expressing genes for key biosynthetic enzymes. To do this I have designed plant transformation vectors using publically available or licensable vector DNA components. Use of components that are free of intellectual property restrictions is a crucial step in my project necessary to ensure that the end product of my research will be able to undergo governmental deregulation for both domestic and international marketing.

Utilization of plant tissue culture techniques and micro-projectile bombardment (gene gun) allows for successful plant transformation. After transformation, peanut tissue culture undergoes a selection process to ensure presence of the transgene(s) in plant tissue. Plant tissues harboring the transgene(s) are currently in various stages of regeneration including mature flowering plants. It was necessary to determine the folate distribution in non-transformed peanuts to have a baseline comparison for transgenic peanuts. Folate distribution in non-transformed peanuts was analyzed using a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry system. Once the transgenic peanuts are at the proper stage they will undergo the same profile analysis and be compared back to the non-transformed parent to determine if the metabolic engineering strategy described was able to increase total seed folate.

Presentations:

  • Folate biofortification in legumes A. hypogaea and P. vulgaris. PPWS seminar, October 31, 2007, Blacksburg, VA
  • Increasing folate content in peanut. American Peanut Research and Education Society, July 16, 2009, Raleigh, NC
  • Modification of oxalate oxidase to remove putative allergenic glycans. Molecular Plant Sciences Discussion Group, August 26, 2009, Blacksburg, VA

Posters:

  • Modifying peanut for improved folate content for domestic and international markets. Dean's forum on Health, Food, and Nutrition, November 5, 2007, Blacksburg, VA
  • Metabolic profiling of folate derivatives in peanut using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. American Institute of Biological Sciences Annual meeting on sustainable agriculture, May 18-19, 2009, Arlington, VA

Awards:

  • Second place in graduate student competition at 2009 American Peanut Research and Education Society Meeting in Raleigh, NC
  • Member of Phi Sigma Biology Honor Society