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A B S T R A C T B O O K – A B S T R A C T S O F P O S T E R S<br />

Flavonoids are plant secondary metabolites well known for their high antioxidant activity, which is an<br />

important property for plants´ interaction and adaptation with the surrounding environment. As well, they<br />

contribute to the organoleptic quality of plant products, like fruits, and are of major interest in human<br />

nutrition and health.<br />

Bilberry is a characteristic berry species of boreal forests and naturally contains high amounts of flavonoids,<br />

in particular anthocyanins. In bilberry, the synthesis and accumulation of these compounds is genetically,<br />

developmentally, and also environmentally regulated.<br />

Generally, our bilberry research is focused on regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis related to adaptation. In<br />

particular, we are studying the role of light quality on the production of flavonoids. Results show<br />

considerable differences in the expression of structural and regulatory flavonoid biosynthesis genes, as well<br />

as the photoreceptor genes PHYTOCHROME B and CRYPTOCHROME, in response to different light<br />

treatments.<br />

CHANGING THE BIOMASS COMPOSITION OF BRACHYPODIUM DISTACHYON -MORE<br />

FRUCTANS FOR A MORE EFFICIENT BIOMASS CONVERSION<br />

Maria Lundmark, Helle Kildal Mogensen, Tom Hamborg Nielsen<br />

Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark<br />

E-mail: mlun@life.ku.dk<br />

Fructans are non-structural polysaccharides consisting of either β -2,1- or β -2,6-linked linear and branched<br />

fructose chains that act as a carbohydrate reserves as an alternative or in addition to starch. Fructans are<br />

commonly found in many of the important biofuel crops such as Switchgrass, Perennial ryegrass and<br />

Miscanthus.<br />

Plant biomass is the largest available resource for the production of renewable liquid fuels. However, the<br />

conversion of lignocelluloic biomass into biofuel is difficult due to the recalcitrance of these structures and<br />

the efficiency in terms of yield and cost is still too poor for it to be feasible at a commercial level.<br />

We intend to shift the carbon flux of the photosynthetic cells of Brachypodium distachyon towards more<br />

soluble carbohydrates by overexpressing the enzymes of the fructan biosynthetic pathway. The shift in<br />

biomass composition will allow for more efficient degradation.<br />

We have identified three putative fructosyl transferases from Brachypodium. These have been cloned and<br />

we are waiting for the first generation of the transgenic plants.<br />

Alongside, we have also cloned genes encoding fructan exohydrolases in Brachypodium and an<br />

endohydrolase from Bacillus subtilis, in order to obtain new enzymes suitable for degrading fructans stored<br />

within the leaves.<br />

CLONING, CHARACTERIZATION AND EXPRESSION PROFILES OF TWO UDP-<br />

GLUCOSYLTRANSFERASES, UGT85K4 AND UGT85K5, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LAST STEP<br />

IN THE CYANOGENIC GLUCOSIDE BIOSYNTHETIC PATHWAY IN CASSAVA<br />

Rubini Kannangara 1 , Mohammed Saddik Motawia 1 , Natascha Kristine Krahl Hansen 1 , Suzanne Michelle<br />

Paquette 2 , Birger Lindberg Møller 1 , Kirsten Jørgensen 1<br />

1<br />

Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Villum Foundation Research Centre “Pro-Active Plants”, UNIK Center for Synthetic Biology,<br />

University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.<br />

2<br />

Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA<br />

E-mail: natascha@life.ku.dk<br />

Cyanogenic glucosides are amino acid-derived bioactive natural products biosynthesized by two<br />

cytochrome P450 enzymes and an UDP-glucosyl transferase. Cassava (Manihot esculenta) biosynthesizes<br />

the two cyanogenic glucosides, linamarin and lotaustralin, derived from L-valine and L-isoleucine<br />

respectively. In this study cDNAs encoding two UGT paralogs (assigned UGT85K4 and UGT85K5) have been<br />

identified and isolated from cassava. The two paralogs show 96 % identity and belong to a family containing<br />

UGTs involved in cyanogenic glucoside biosynthesis in Prunus dulcis and Sorghum bicolor. The two UGT<br />

paralogs were recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli and biochemically characterized. UGT85K4 and<br />

84<br />

X X I V S P P S C O N G R E S S 2 0 1 1

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