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

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
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
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, 64(8), 2071-2082. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10722-017-0497-1
2017 - View publication details
RM1. The activity of key fermentative enzyme Alcohol Dehydrogenase 1 from Arabidopsis thaliana is differentially altered by several redox post-translational modifications. S. Dumont1*, N.V. Bykova2, A. Khaou1, Y. Besserour1, J. Rivoal1.Canadian Society of Plant Biologists. Eastern Regional Meeting 2017. November 24-25, 2017. Montreal, Canada.
2017 - View publication details
Bykova NV, Jordan M, Radovanovic N, Rampitsch M, Hu-Skrzenta J (2017) Proteogenomics analysis of seed dormancy identifies genotype- and phenotype-associated proteomic signatures of pre-harvest sprouting resistance in dormant and non-dormant hybrid genotypes of wheat. In: Plants from Sea to Sky. A joint meeting of the CSPB and the Canadian Society for Horticultural Science, Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada, July 4-7, 2017. Poster number 246-DV.
2017 - View publication details
Hu-Skrzenta J, Radovanovic N, Rampitsch M, Igamberdiev AU, Bykova NV (2017) Redox regulation of after-ripening induced wheat seed dormancy release revealed through tissue-specific proteomics and antioxidant capacity profiling. In: Plants from Sea to Sky. A joint meeting of the CSPB and the Canadian Society for Horticultural Science, Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada, July 4-7, 2017. Oral presentation, student
2017 - View publication details
Bykova NV, Jordan M, Hu J, Radovanovic N, Rampitsch M (2016) Integrated proteogenomics approach to reveal sources of pre-harvest sprouting resistance in Canadian wheat. 3rd Canadian Wheat Symposium, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, November 22-25. Poster - P42.
2016 - View publication details
Fan, T., Bykova, N.V., Rampitsch, C., Xing, T. (2016). Identification and characterization of a serine protease from wheat leaves, 146(2), 293-304. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10658-016-0914-x
2016 - View publication details
Bykova NV, Igamberdiev AU (2016) Redox state in plant mitochondria and its role in stress tolerance. In: Redox State as a Central Regulator of Plant-Cell Stress Responses. D.K. Gupta, J. M. Palma, F. J. Corpas (Editors), Springer International Publishing AG Switzerland. DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-44081-1_5; pp 93-115.
2016 - View publication details
Bykova NV, Jordan M, Hu J, Radovanovic N, Rampitsch M (2016) Integration of quantitative proteomics, redox metabolomics and proteogenomics to identify sources of seed dormancy control and pre-harvest sprouting resistance in wheat. 2nd International Plant Proteomics Organization (INPPO) World Congress. Bratislava, Slovakia, September 4th-8th, 2016. Oral presentation
2016 - View publication details
Ma, Z., Marsolais, F., Bernards, M.A., Sumarah, M.W., Bykova, N.V., Igamberdiev, A.U. (2016). Glyoxylate cycle and metabolism of organic acids in the scutellum of barley seeds during germination, 248 37-44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2016.04.007
2016 - View publication details