Location: Children's Nutrition Research Center
2020 Annual Report
Objectives
Objective 1. Characterize oxalate catabolic activity in low and high oxalate plants of dietary importance such as leafy greens harvested at different stages of development.
Subobjective 1A: Characterize dynamic changes in oxalic acid and calcium oxalate crystal formation and assess mineral bioavailability in low and high oxalate leafy plants at different developmental stages
Subobjective 1B: Measure oxalate catabolic activity in low and high oxalate leafy plants at different developmental stages.
Objective 2. Identify and characterize in a model plant system the genes and encoded proteins responsible for each step in a novel pathway of oxalate catabolism.
Subobjective 2A: Isolate and biochemically characterize the putative enzymes responsible for catalyzing the remaining steps in the CoA-dependent pathway of oxalate catabolism
Subobjective 2B: Assignment of each putative enzyme to the CoA-dependent pathway of oxalate catabolism.
Objective 3. Determine the influence of the newly identified oxalate catabolism pathway on the nutritional composition, phytochemical profile, and production characteristics in plants of dietary importance such as leafy greens grown to different stages of maturity (microgreens to mature greens).
Subobjective 3A: Manipulate oxalate catabolism in leafy greens.
Subobjective 3B: Assess the impact of oxalate catabolism on leafy green growth.
Subobjective 3C: Assess the impact of the manipulation of oxalate catabolism on the nutritional quality of leafy greens.
Approach
Although oxalic acid is known to impact numerous biological processes in a broad range of organisms, our understanding of the mechanisms regulating its turnover are not well understood. This is especially true in plants. To begin to fill these gaps in our knowledge we plan to first assess the oxalate catabolic activity in low and high oxalate plants of dietary importance at different stages of development.The information gained from the assessment would be of use to consumers trying to reduce dietary oxalate loads and scientists interested in gaining new insights into the mechanisms regulating oxalate metabolism in plants. We will also identify and characterize in a model plant system the genes and encoded proteins responsible for each step in the CoA-dependent pathway of oxalate catabolism. The findings obtained will contribute significantly to our understanding of oxalate turnover and will set a foundation for future investigations into oxalate metabolism in a number of organisms ranging from microbes to plants.
Progress Report
For Objective 1, Sub-objective 1A, we completed the collecting of large quantities of seeds from the different spinach (PI169688, PI648964, PI1335782, and NSL6095) and kale (Premier and Dwarf blue curled vates) varieties. This seed collection process was necessary to get enough seeds to conduct oxalate, mineral, mineral bioavailability, and enzyme studies. Next, we planted seeds obtained from this bulking and grew the different spinach and kale varieties under controlled environmental conditions to provide an optimal growing environment. Leaf samples were collected at 14, 24, and 44 days after germination which correspond to the micro-, baby-, and mature-leafy greens, respectively, that are marketed to the general public at supermarkets. Trial 1 oxalate and mineral composition analysis were conducted on the different categories of leafy greens.
For Objective 2, Sub-objective 2A, we completed the isolation of the candidate genes from Arabidopsis that are predicted to encode a protein (formyl-CoA hydrolase) which converts formyl-CoA to formate. This conversion is the predicted third step in a novel pathway of oxalate degradation. We also completed procedures that will allow the production of large quantities of the protein to conduct activity measurements. As a part of Sub-objective 2B, we completed the identification and isolation of an Arabidopsis mutant that contains an insertion in the gene that prevents the conversion of formyl-CoA to formate.
For Objective 3, Sub-objective 3A, we completed procedures that will be used to try and increase the oxalate degradative capacity of plants.
Accomplishments
