Concetta Simona Taranto
Data inizio: 01/10/2024
Curriculum: Biotecnologie agro-alimentari
Borsa: Borsa finanziata da D.M. 629 inv. 4.1 – Ricerca PNRR
Titolo tesi: The colour of blood oranges: a genetic and epigenetic analysis of anthocyanin production and accumulation
Abstract: Anthocyanins are water-soluble pigments belonging to the flavonoid compound family, which is involved in many aspects of plant life, and are characterised by a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The presence of these compounds is affected by different factors, such as genotype and cold temperatures. Moreover, epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, might influence the colour development. Several works have been also conducted to demonstrate that cold storage is able to both induce anthocyanin production and rearrange methylation profiles in promoter regions of genes involved in anthocyanin accumulation (Ruby and DFR). In addition, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as miRNAs, can play a vital role in regulating gene expression. For example, in Arabidopsis thaliana, miR828 was reported to be involved in the process of anthocyanin accumulation in response to phosphate deficiency. This project aims to provide a deeper understanding on the regulatory factors (genetic and epigenetic) acting upon anthocyanin production and accumulation in blood oranges. A precise experimental model will be applied allowing to reveal putative epigenetic regulation in colour development. It is based on the observation that different areas of the same fruit, having the same genotype, accumulate a different amount of pigment, and consists in a specific sampling procedure involving differentially pigmented areas of the same fruit. A multi-omics approach involving epigenomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics will be thus applied allowing to better understand the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in blood orange as well as colour variegation.
Tutor: Lo Piero
Data Conseguimento Titolo: in corso
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chiara-pisana-2394981a5
Email: concetta.taranto@phd.unict.it
Periodi all'estero- Sede e data: Da definire
Esperienze post-Dottorato ed attuale occupazione: in corso