The GH3 Family of Acyl Acid-Amido Synthetases: Structural and Biochemical Studies of Hormone-Amino Acid Conjugation

Abstract

Plants respond to a multitude of signals and adapt to maximizesurvivability and reproduction. To accomplish this, plants use a variety of smallmolecules called plant hormones, or phytohormones. These molecules,synthesized from primary metabolites, lead to large-scale changes in the plantthroughout development. As small changes in hormone concentration has majorimpacts, their synthesis, inactivation, and degradation are tightly controlled. Onesuch control mechanism is the attachment of amino acids to acidic hormones viathe formation of an amide bond. The GH3 family of enzymes is responsible forformation of these conjugates, but little is known about their function. My thesiswork examines the GH3 enzymes from Arabidopsis thaliana, focusing on threefamily members, AtGH3.5, AtGH3.11, and AtGH3.12. Additionally, my work aimsto understand the role of the aromatic amino acid precursor chorismate in bothAtGH3.12 and chorismate mutase function.

Committee Chair

Joseph M Jez

Committee Members

Robert E Blankenship, Barbara N Kunkel, Thomas J Smith, Lucia C Strader, Hani S Zaher

Comments

Permanent URL: https://doi.org/10.7936/K7GT5K34

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Author's Department

Biology & Biomedical Sciences (Biochemistry)

Author's School

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Document Type

Dissertation

Date of Award

Winter 12-15-2013

Language

English (en)

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