Flavonoid profiling by LC-MS IN 14 – 3-3ν knockout mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana during drought stress conditions

The phenylpropenoid pathways are of interest to plant bio-engineers as compounds produced through this pathway have beneficial effects like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic activities and also protects plants from environmental stresses. Ongoing research in our lab, studies how drought stress can influences accumulation of secondary metabolites and the role of 14 – 3-3 proteins in production of these secondary metabolites. The regulatory proteins called 14 – 3-3, are known signaling factors in eukaryotes. Isoforms of 14 – 3-3 such as lambda (λ) has demonstrated a role in production of flavonoids and lignin and hence, its effects in drought tolerance. To further enhance our understanding of the role 14 – 3-3 plays in the phenylpropanoid pathways two T-DNA alleles of the 14 – 3-3ν (nu) knockout mutant was studied and compared to the wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana (Columbia-0) under drought stress conditions. Flavonoid profiling was carried out by LC-MS with diode array peak monitoring using Apeginin as an internal standard. New insight may be determined from changes in the flavonol glycosides in drought or hydrated samples of the mutants and the wild type leading to a better understanding of how this family of proteins affects tolerance to drought stress.