Session 2C: Molecular Modeling and Stability Calculations of Loaded Anthocyanins and their Complexes in Catharanthus roseus
Session Number
Session 2C: 3rd Presentation
Advisor(s)
Jayaraj Alappat, Ball Horticulture Company
Start Date
28-4-2017 10:00 AM
End Date
28-4-2017 11:15 AM
Abstract
Anthocyanins are pigments produced by the flowers, fruits, and leaves of plants. These molecules can give plants their color, and are stabilized successively by glycosylation and acylation reactions. Catharanthus roseus is the model organism for studying the effects of these reactions in the sun, as C. roseus flowers lighten when exposed to sunlight due to the decomposition of unstable anthocyanins in the flower petals. In order to determine which combination of anthocyanidin (base molecules for anthocyanin), glucose, and acyl group is the most stable, the models of all possible molecules was drawn in ChemDraw, and Gaussian/Gaussian 5 will be used to calculate the theoretical stability of the molecules. Once the most stable combination is determined by this software, in the lab, the anthocyanins of C. roseus flowers will be extracted, hydrolysis will be performed, and from there HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) will be used to see if C. roseus is producing the most stable anthocyanins. If not, plant breeders will attempt to cross different varieties of C. roseus so as to have the flowers produce the stable anthocyanin. These new varieties will then be tested for their performance under sunlight.
Session 2C: Molecular Modeling and Stability Calculations of Loaded Anthocyanins and their Complexes in Catharanthus roseus
Anthocyanins are pigments produced by the flowers, fruits, and leaves of plants. These molecules can give plants their color, and are stabilized successively by glycosylation and acylation reactions. Catharanthus roseus is the model organism for studying the effects of these reactions in the sun, as C. roseus flowers lighten when exposed to sunlight due to the decomposition of unstable anthocyanins in the flower petals. In order to determine which combination of anthocyanidin (base molecules for anthocyanin), glucose, and acyl group is the most stable, the models of all possible molecules was drawn in ChemDraw, and Gaussian/Gaussian 5 will be used to calculate the theoretical stability of the molecules. Once the most stable combination is determined by this software, in the lab, the anthocyanins of C. roseus flowers will be extracted, hydrolysis will be performed, and from there HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) will be used to see if C. roseus is producing the most stable anthocyanins. If not, plant breeders will attempt to cross different varieties of C. roseus so as to have the flowers produce the stable anthocyanin. These new varieties will then be tested for their performance under sunlight.