HNSE-O2-4. Evolutionary Analysis of NLR Genes in Metrosideros through Comparative Genomics
Sarem Khilji1
Jae Choi2
Faculty Mentor: Elizabeth Stacy, Ph.D.1
1College of Science, School of Life Sciences
2New York University
ABSTRACT
Plants rely heavily on innate immunity toward pathogens due to the fact that many of them do not contain specialized adaptive immune system cells. In order to mount proper immune responses, plants must come up with several broad defense mechanisms. One such mechanism in these plants, nucleotide-binding domain & leucine-rich repeat (NLR) proteins, are key players when it comes to intracellular immune-related functions. While the biological functions and protein structure of NLR genes are similar across species, variation in NLR gene numbers and sequences among closely related plant taxa can play a key role in diversification and the evolution of reproductive isolating barriers. In this study, we examine variation in NLR genes within Hawaiian Metrosideros (Myrtaceae), an incipient adaptive radiation of woody taxa that show partial isolating barriers. By using NLR annotating software tools, examining the number of NLR genes through code, mapping these genes to their respective chromosomes, and looking at synteny between taxa, we hope to glean insight into the evolution of NLRs in Metrosideros and how variation of these NLR-mediated mechanisms may potentially confer reproductive isolation within taxa. Preliminary results suggest that pubescent Metrosideros taxa may have a greater number of NLR sequences than glabrous taxa while also varying in their distribution across chromosomes. Future synteny analysis will provide a framework for examining variation of these homologous genes and help to establish if gene order is a significant factor of NLR variation among different species.
Date
- Nov 15 - 19 2021
- Expired!
Time
- All Day
Labels
- HNSE: Podium Session 2
Organizer
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The Office of Undergraduate Research
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Phone
702-895-4771 -
Email
our@unlv.edu -
Website
http://unlv.edu/our
Speakers
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Dr. Elizabeth Stacy | College of Sciences
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Jae Choi | New York University
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Sarem Khilji | College of Science
Hi everyone! Thank you so much taking the time to view my presentation! These last few months have been an extremely exciting time for me in regards to research and so I am thrilled to hear any thoughts or feedback that you may have!