Background

Research in the group of Yariv Brotman focuses on the use of quantitative genetic approaches for the identification of genes that are involved in plant metabolism, and on further functional characterization of those genes by application of different molecular biology techniques and transgenic plant approaches. Special focus is given to genes that are taking part in lipid metabolism. To identify the genetic loci that control the biosynthesis of metabolites and lipids, we are utilizing the growing body of genetic and genomic resources available for plants. By the use of mass spectrometry based metabolomic profiling we identify metabolomic qualitative trait loci (mQTL). For this purpose we are conducting - using the natural variation that exists in a given plant species - genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on three plants species: the model plant Arabidopsis and two agriculturally important crop species, maize and rice.

Current Projects

1. We are currently performing GWAS in Arabidopsis, maize and rice in order to identify mQTL. To do so, we are first preforming metabolic-phenotypic characterization of the metabolites (primary and secondary metabolites) and lipids in the different accessions of Arabidopsis, maize and rice, in different plant tissues, using gas- or liquid-chromatography mass-spectrometry (GC-MS and LC-MS) analysis. Further characterization of the molecular, biochemical and physiological role of candidate genes obtained from the genetic mapping of maize and rice is conducted using knockout and heterologous-expression approaches in yeast and Arabidopsis.we are applying a research approach that combines mQTL genetic mapping with time-resolved metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis of maize to elucidate the correlation between genes and metabolites. We further perform molecular and functional characterization of candidate genes, identified in the mQTL screening, using different molecular biology techniques, transgenic plant approaches and mass-spectrometry-based metabolomic approaches. 2.Studying transcriptional regulation in Arabidopsis by five MYB transcription factors (TF) controlling different aspects of biosynthetic processes of plant lipids and secondary metabolites. 3.Elucidating the interaction of plants with pathogens using a combination of metabolomic and transcriptomic approaches, which allows the systemic analysis of the plant response toward pathogens.

Garbowicz, K., Z. Liu, S. Alseekh, D. Tieman, M. Taylor, A. Kuhalskaya, I. Ofner, D. Zamir, H. J. Klee, A. R. Fernie, and Y. Brotman. “Quantitative Trait Loci Analysis Identifies a Prominent Gene Involved in the Production of Fatty Acid-Derived Flavor Volatiles in Tomato.” Mol Plant (Jun 2018).

Wu, S., T. Tohge, A. Cuadros-Inostroza, H. Tong, H. Tenenboim, R. Kooke, M. Meret, J. B. Keurentjes, Z. Nikoloski, A. R. Fernie, L. Willmitzer, and Y. Brotman. “Mapping the Arabidopsis Metabolic Landscape by Untargeted Metabolomics at Different Environmental Conditions.” Mol Plant 11:1 (Jan 2018): 118-34.

de Abreu, E. Lima F., K. Li, W. Wen, J. Yan, Z. Nikoloski, L. Willmitzer, and Y. Brotman. “Unraveling Lipid Metabolism in Maize with Time-Resolved Multi-Omics Data.” Plant J 93:6 (Mar 2018): 1102-15.

Tenenboim, H. and Y. Brotman. “Omic Relief for the Biotically Stressed: Metabolomics of Plant Biotic Interactions.” Trends Plant Sci 21:9 (Sep 2016): 781-91.

Wu, S., S. Alseekh, A. Cuadros-Inostroza, C. M. Fusari, M. Mutwil, R. Kooke, J. B. Keurentjes, A. R. Fernie, L. Willmitzer, and Y. Brotman. “Combined Use of Genome-Wide Association Data and Correlation Networks Unravels Key Regulators of Primary Metabolism in Arabidopsis Thaliana.” PLoS Genet 12:10 (Oct 2016): e1006363.

Ph.D. Bar-Ilan University, 2005.