Function of mevalonate kinase proteoforms in the adaptation to specific climates (C04)

• Subject Area: Plant Biochemistry and Biophysics ; Biochemistry ; Biophysics ; Evolution and Systematics of Plants and Fungi ; Plant Genetics and Genomics ; Plant Physiology ; Structural Biology
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 514901783

C04 focuses on MEVALONATE KINASE (MVK) in the mevalonate pathway crucial for isoprenoid biosynthesis. Several climate factors are associated with diverse MVK alleles. Mapping nsSNPs onto the 3-D structure suggests surface localization, influencing potential dimerization. Heterologous expression, purification, and cryo-EM-based modelling of proteoforms will reveal biochemical alterations. Differing MVK activities in accessions or haplotypes will be phenotypically analysed under varied environmental conditions, advancing understanding of MEV pathway regulation for metabolic engineering of terpenoids.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1664: Plant Proteoform Diversity - SNP2Prot
• Applicant Institution: Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Panagiotis L. Kastritis; Professor Dr. Alain Tissier