Natalia V. Bykova, Ph.D.

Research Scientist

Cereal proteomics, mass spectrometry-based quantitative and functional posttranslational modification proteomics

101 Route 100, Unit 100, Morden, Manitoba, R6M 1Y5

Current research and/or projects

Research program focuses on functional modification-specific and quantitative proteomics; posttranslational coordination of signal transduction pathways induced in plants during biotic, abiotic stress response and seed development; quantitative mass spectrometry-driven technologies in plant proteomics to provide a deeper understanding of molecular mechanisms regulating the function and interaction of proteins.

Integrating quantitative proteomics, redox metabolomics and proteogenomics approaches to identify sources of pre-harvest sprouting resistance in Canadian wheat.

Mitigating emerging threats to wheat - Mexican durum rust threat. Discovery of nuclear-targeted effector proteins - quantitative nuclear proteomics of the host-pathogen interaction, integration of –omics and bioinformatics data, validation and functional analyses of candidate effectors including host targets / R-genes.

Research and/or project statements

Functional plant proteomics and mass spectrometry-based protein characterization, response to disease and stress

Modification-specific proteomics - mass spectrometry-driven identification and characterisation of posttranslational modifications phosphorylation, glycosylation and cysteine oxidoreduction, and elucidation of modification-function relationships

Determination of the role of posttranslational protein modifications in coordination of signal transduction pathways induced in plants during biotic, abiotic stress response and seed development

Identification of signalling components and the molecular mechanisms of plant-pathogen interactions

Professional activities / interests

Member of Canadian and American Societies of Plant Biologists; International Plant Proteomics Organization (INPPO), Country Representative from Canada and Spokesperson in the Executive Council of INPPO (since 2011) that facilitates the development of new technologies in plant science, promotes plant proteomics, and intensifies international cooperation to integrate plant proteomics-related activities

Education and awards

Ph.D. Biochemistry, Voronezh State University, Russia

M.Sc. Plant Biochemistry and Physiology, Voronezh State University, Russia

Postgraduate Studentship - G. Soros International Science Foundation, USA

International experience and/or work

Assistant Professor - Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN), 2008-2012

Research Associate - Mass spectrometry applications in biology, University of Manitoba, Physics, 2002-2004

Postdoctoral Position – Proteomics, Plant Research Department, Risø National Laboratory, Denmark, 2001-2002

Postdoctoral Fellowship - EU Biotechnology Framework IV, Umeå University, Department of Plant Physiology, Sweden, 1998-2001

Scholarship from the Swedish Institute (total 7 months) - Lund University, Department of Plant Physiology, Sweden, 1998

Key publications

Bykova NV, Radovanovic N, Huang M, Rampitsch M, Yao Z, Wijesinghe MKPS, Junjie Hu-Skrzenta J (2023) Multilevel regulation of seed dormancy and germination in hexaploid wheat revealed through proteogenomic, redox proteomic, and biochemical approaches. The 5th Conference of the International Plant Proteomics Organization – ThessInPPO2023, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece, May 22-25, 2023.
2023 - View publication details
Natalia V. Bykova, Christof Rampitsch, Abir U. Igamberdiev, Plant proteomics: From the molecular basis of biological processes to a systems biology perspective, Journal of Plant Physiology, Volume 280, 2023, 153880, ISSN 0176-1617, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jplph.2022.153880.
2023 - View publication details
Bykova NV, Rampitsch C, McCallum B, Bakkeren G, Wang X, Huang M, Fernando U, Radovanovic N, Rampitsch M, Linning R (2021) Profiling the total and nuclear proteomes of host-pathogen interactions of the wheat Thatcher near-isogenic line for Lr2a resistance gene with virulent and avirulent races of Puccinia triticina. 4th International Plant Proteomics Organization (INPPO) Conference. Virtual Conference hosted from Winnipeg, Canada, March 9-11, 2021. Poster http://www.inppo2020.org/
2021 - View publication details
Ouellet J, Dumont S, Bykova NV, Rojas LM, Dorion S, Bélanger M, Kornblatt, MJ, Rivoal J (2020) Effects of redox modifications on proteins encoded by the Low expression of OSmotically responsive genes 2 locus in Arabidopsis thaliana. Concours d'affiches scientifiques étudiantes 2020 du Centre SÈVE, Virtual Meeting, Québec, Canada, November 25-26, 2020. Poster, student
2020 - View publication details
Ouellet J, Dumont S, Bykova NV, Rojas LM, Dorion S, Bélanger M, Kornblatt, MJ, Rivoal J (2020) Redox sensitivity of proteins encoded by the Low expression of OSmotically responsive genes 2 locus in Arabidopsis thaliana. CSPB/SCBV 2020 Virtual Meeting, November 7, 2020. Oral presentation, student
2020 - View publication details
Jayawardhane, J., Cochrane, D.W., Vyas, P., Bykova, N.V., Vanlerberghe, G.C., Igamberdiev, A.U. (2020). Roles for Plant Mitochondrial Alternative Oxidase Under Normoxia, Hypoxia, and Reoxygenation Conditions. Frontiers in Plant Science, [online] 11 http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.00566
2020 - View publication details
Møller, Ian & Igamberdiev, Abir & Bykova, Natalia & Finkemeier, Iris & Rasmusson, Allan & Schwarzländer, Markus. (2020). Matrix Redox Physiology Governs the Regulation of Plant Mitochondrial Metabolism through Post-Translational Protein Modifications. The Plant Cell. 10.1105/tpc.19.00535.
2020 - View publication details
Jayawardhane J, Cochrane DW, Shah JK, Bykova NV, Vanlerberghe GC, Igamberdiev AU (2019) The involvement of mitochondrial electron transport chain components in nitric oxide metabolism in plants. The 14th International Conference on Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species in Plants. Munich, Germany, July 10-12, 2019. Oral presentation
2019 - View publication details
Bykova NV, Jordan M, Radovanovic N, Rampitsch M, Hu-Skrzenta J, Huang M (2019) Integrated proteogenomic, quantitative redox proteomic and metabolomic approaches reveal signatures of seed dormancy control in wheat. The 14th International Conference on Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species in Plants. Munich, Germany, July 10-12, 2019. Oral presentation
2019 - View publication details
Dumont, S., Bykova, N.V., Khaou, A., Besserour, Y., Dorval, M., Rivoal, J. (2019). Arabidopsis thaliana alcohol dehydrogenase is differently affected by several redox modifications. PLoS ONE, [online] 13(9), http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0204530
2019 - View publication details
Rampitsch M, Huang M, Zhen Y, Radovanovic N, Xu W, Rampitsch C, Bykova NV (2019). Profiling of histone acetylation and methylation marks associated with embryo and aleurone tissue-specific epigenetic regulation of seed dormancy in wheat. ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics. Atlanta, Georgia, June 2 - 6, 2019. Poster presentation, Abstract ID number: 299846.
2019 - View publication details
Igamberdiev AU, Bykova NV (2019) Metabolism and Interplay of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species in Plant Mitochondria. In: Nitric Oxide and Hydrogen Peroxide Signaling in Higher Plants. D.K. Gupta, J. M. Palma, F. J. Corpas (Editors), Springer International Publishing AG Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11129-8_5; pp 91-106.
2019 - View publication details
Bykova NV, Jordan M, Radovanovic N, Rampitsch M, Hu-Skrzenta J, Huang M (2018) Proteomic signatures associated with pre-harvest sprouting resistance in wheat revealed through proteogenomics. 3rd International Plant Proteomics Organization (INPPO) World Congress. Padova, Italy, September 9-12, 2018. Oral presentation
2018 - View publication details
Rampitsch C, Bykova NV, Wang X, Huang M, Djuric-Ciganovic S (2018) Candidate Effector Proteome of the apoplastic space of wheat leaves infected with leaf rust (Puccinia triticina). 3rd International Plant Proteomics Organization (INPPO) World Congress. Padova, Italy, September 9-12, 2018. Oral presentation
2018 - View publication details
Bykova NV, Rampitsch M, Rampitsch C, Huang M (2018) Histone posttranslational modification landscape related to epigenetic regulation of seed dormancy in wheat. 3rd International Plant Proteomics Organization (INPPO) World Congress. Padova, Italy, September 9-12, 2018. Poster presentation
2018 - View publication details
Dumont S, Bykova NV, Rojas LM, Bélanger M, Rivoal J (2018) Arabidopsis thaliana Enolase 2 is modified by S-glutathionylation. Plant Biology 2018. A joint meeting of the American Society of Plant Biologists, Canadian Society of Plant Biologists/Societe Canadienne de Biologie Vegetale, and the International Society of Photosynthesis Research, Montreal, Québec, Canada, July 14-18, 2018. Poster
2018 - View publication details
Huang M, Fernando U, Djuric-Ciganovic S, Wang X, Bakkeren G, Linning R, Bykova NV, Rampitsch C (2018) Quantitative proteomic approaches to characterize the dynamic and comprehensive defence responses of wheat to leaf rust. 66th ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics, San Diego, CA, USA, June 3-7, 2018. Poster
2018 - View publication details
Igamberdiev AU, Bykova NV (2018) Role of organic acids in the integration of cellular redox metabolism and mediation of redox signalling in photosynthetic tissues of higher plants. Free Radic Biol Med. pii: S0891-5849(18)30026-1. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2018.01.016. [Epub ahead of print]
2018 - View publication details
Ma Z, Bykova NV, Igamberdiev AU (2017) Cell signaling mechanisms and metabolic regulation of germination and dormancy in barley seeds. The Crop Journal 5(6): 459-477. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cj.2017.08.007
2017 - View publication details
Tailor, S., Bykova, N.V., Igamberdiev, A.U., Debnath, S.C. (2017). Structural pattern and genetic diversity in blueberry (Vaccinium) clones and cultivars using EST-PCR and microsatellite markers. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, [online] 64(8), 2071-2082. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10722-017-0497-1
2017 - View publication details