Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
School of Biological Sciences
Department of Plant Science
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
Postgraduate students registered for the new Medicinal Plant Science option with Professors Marion Meyer and Namrita Lall discovered a number of novel bioactive compounds from medicinal plants with anticancer, antityrosinase, antiherpes and antidiabetic activity. These results and promising phase I clinical trial data resulted in a provisional patent on antityrosinase activity. In the project on the antiherpes activity of a Helichrysum species of Prof Meyer an alternative biosynthetic pathway for 4’OH flavonoids was discovered and the gene responsible for it characterized. The collaboration of Prof Karl Kunert with the University of Newcastle, UK contributed to understanding the mechanisms allowing plants to survive in stressful environments. One of the projects of this collaboration was a study on the transcriptome of soybean nodules exposed to drought and maize exposed to a high CO2 concentration in the atmosphere to identify and characterize genes that are expressed due to stress treatment. We found that particular emphasis is on the action of proteases and protease inhibitors to prevent the stress-related senescence processes. Another research highlight was a detailed study on pathogen resistance in banana and in particular the isolation and characterization of the banana non-expresser of pathogenic resistance (NPR) genes. By unravelling the function of these genes in crop species, we hope to eventually use the information to better understand the crop’s response to pathogen infection and to design crops that can better withstand biotic stresses. Data obtained from this programme have already been submitted for publication.
Contact person: Prof JJM Meyer.
Postgraduate students registered for the new Medicinal Plant Science option with Professors Marion Meyer and Namrita Lall discovered a number of novel bioactive compounds from medicinal plants with anticancer, antityrosinase, antiherpes and antidiabetic activity. These results and promising phase I clinical trial data resulted in a provisional patent on antityrosinase activity. In the project on the antiherpes activity of a Helichrysum species of Prof Meyer an alternative biosynthetic pathway for 4’OH flavonoids was discovered and the gene responsible for it characterized. The collaboration of Prof Karl Kunert with the University of Newcastle, UK contributed to understanding the mechanisms allowing plants to survive in stressful environments. One of the projects of this collaboration was a study on the transcriptome of soybean nodules exposed to drought and maize exposed to a high CO2 concentration in the atmosphere to identify and characterize genes that are expressed due to stress treatment. We found that particular emphasis is on the action of proteases and protease inhibitors to prevent the stress-related senescence processes. Another research highlight was a detailed study on pathogen resistance in banana and in particular the isolation and characterization of the banana non-expresser of pathogenic resistance (NPR) genes. By unravelling the function of these genes in crop species, we hope to eventually use the information to better understand the crop’s response to pathogen infection and to design crops that can better withstand biotic stresses. Data obtained from this programme have already been submitted for publication.
Contact person: Prof N Lall.
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