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2012 - 11th Annual NC State Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium
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Session Time :
8/1/12 3:00 PM - 8/1/12 4:14 PM
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Content Area : NSF Integrative Molecular Plant Systems REU
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Lead Student Presenters : Cynthia Kay Holland
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Abstract Title : Metabolic Engineering and Biosynthesis of Limonene in Camelina sativa
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Abstract :
Camelina sativa (Camelina) is a plant species in Brassicaceae known for its oily seeds that can be utilized as a renewable resource for the production of jet biofuel. Limonene is a natural aromatic monoterpene that is required in jet biofuel products to prevent fouling, oxidation, and corrosion of the jet engine. In plants limonene is naturally synthesized in the plastid through the 2-C-methyl-D-erythriol-4-phosphate pathway, where geranylpyrophosphate (GPP) is converted to limonene using limonene synthase (LS). The aim of this project is to increase the limonene content in the oil of Camelina. However, since limonene may have detrimental effects on seed development, Camelina valve tissue has been targeted for the production of limonene. To reach this goal, the LS gene is being expressed under the control of the promoter of the gene FRUITFUL (pFUL) that is only functional in fruit valves. To date, the gene cassette with pFUL::LS has been cloned in the binary vector pBGWFS7, which has been further used to transform Camelina via Agrobacterium mediated infiltration. The T1 and T2 generations will be selected using the herbicide phospinothricin (Basta) to identify putative transgenic plants that will be further analyzed for limonene production. In addition, Egfp and GUS reporters will be used to localize LS expression in valves.
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Mentor and/or Co-Author : Monica Borghi
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