Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica
Abstract
Dissertation presented to obtain the degree of Doctorate in Biochemistry by
Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica of Universidade Nova de LisboaDespite being known for more than 80 years that B is essential for
plant growth, the role of this element in plant metabolism remains
elusive. Until now, B involvement in the plant cell wall structure is
the only well-documented participation of B. However, this
participation can not explain all the symptoms observed in Bdeficient
plants nor the requirement of B for early animal
developmental processes.
The aim of this study was to acquire additional data on the
role(s) of B in the growth and development of higher plants. For
that purpose, Lupinus albus, an important crop plant, was used to
study long-term B deficiency responses, characterizing the proteomes
of the leaf apoplast (Chapter 2) and of the root system (Chapter
3). A metabolite analysis was also performed in the different organs
(leaf-blades, petioles, apexes, hypocotyls and roots) of L. albus
plants (Chapter 4). Some consistent responses were observed with
these different approaches.(...)The investigation was co-financed by Fundação da Ciência e
Tecnologia (FCT) POCI 2010 and Fundo Social Europeu (FSE)
through the PhD fellowship SFRH/BD/18273/2004