Date of Completion

8-10-2020

Embargo Period

8-10-2020

Advisors

Yaowu Yuan, Jeffrey Seemann, Louise Lewis

Field of Study

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Degree

Master of Science

Open Access

Campus Access

Abstract

Mimulus verbenaceus, an emerging model system for plant molecular biology and anthocyanin research, displays an obvious loss of anthocyanins due to heat in the calyx, but not in the corolla or leaf. Although many species have been documented to lose anthocyanins in the heat, the molecular mechanisms driving temperature-dependent anthocyanin biosynthesis remain unknown. Previous research in Arabidopsis suggests that the degradation of the transcription factor HY5, a positive regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis, by COP1 is what causes loss of anthocyanins in the heat. However, overexpressing HY5 in M. verbenaceus does not increase calyx anthocyanin production, suggesting a different regulatory mechanism for temperaturedependent anthocyanin biosynthesis in Mimulus.

Major Advisor

Yaowu Yuan, Jeffrey Seemann

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