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, 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. European Journal of Plant Pathology, [online] 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. Plant Science, [online] 248 37-44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2016.04.007
2016 - View publication details
Hu J, Radovanovic N, Bykova NV (2016) Integration of proteome and targeted redox metabolome profiling of seed dormancy genotype and after-ripening induced changes in wheat. Plant Biotech 2016, A joint meeting of the CSPB and the Canadian Association for Plant Biotechnology, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, June 19th-21st, 2016. Oral presentation, student.
2016 - View publication details
Ma, Z., Marsolais, F., Bykova, N.V., Igamberdiev, A.U. (2016). Nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species mediate metabolic changes in barley seed embryo during germination. Frontiers in Plant Science, [online] 7(FEB2016), http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2016.00138
2016 - View publication details
Hu, J., Radovanovic, N., Fan, T., and Bykova, N.V. (2015). "Redox regulation of seed dormancy release in spring wheat revealed through tissue-specific proteomics, metabolomics and antioxidant activity profiling.", Canadian Plant Science Annual Meeting with Plant Canada and other plant societies at Botany 2015, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, July 25-29, 2015. (Poster)
2015 - View publication details
Bykova, N.V. and Igamberdiev, A.U. (2015). "Non-coupled pathways of plant mitochondrial electron transport support high rates of glycine oxidation.", 9th International Conference for Plant Mitochondrial Biology ICPMB, Wrocław, Poland, May 17-22, 2015, P81. (Poster)
2015 - View publication details
Igamberdiev, A.U. and Bykova, N.V. (2015). "Non-coupled pathways of plant mitochondrial electron transport and the maintenance of high photorespiratory flux.", in Gupta, K.J., Mur, L.A.J., and Neelwarne, B. (eds.) - Alternative Respiratory Pathways in Higher Plants, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chapter 2.
2015 - View publication details
Bykova, N.V., Hu, J., and Radovanovic, N. (2015). "Redox control of metabolic reprogramming toward seed dormancy release in wheat.", 12th International Conference on Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species in Plants: from model systems to field, Verona, Italy, June 24-26, 2015.
2015 - View publication details
Bykova, N.V., Hu, J.-N., Ma, Z., and Igamberdiev, A.U. (2015). "The role of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in bioenergetics, metabolism and signaling during seed germination.", in Gupta, K.J. and Igamberdiev, A.U. (eds.) - Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species Signaling and Communication in Plants, Springer Berlin / Heidelberg, pp. 177-195.
2015 - View publication details
An, D., Bykova, N.V., Debnath, S.C. (2015). EST-PCR, EST-SSR and ISSR markers to identify a set of wild cranberries and evaluate their relationships. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, [online] 95(6), 1155-1165. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/CJPS-2015-158
2015 - View publication details
Hu, J., Rampitsch, C., Bykova, N.V. (2015). Advances in plant proteomics toward improvement of crop productivity and stress resistance, 6(APR), http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2015.00209
2015 - View publication details
Bykova, N.V., Rampitsch, C., and others (2014). "Proteomic approaches to revealing mechanisms of physiological transition from seed dormancy to high germination potential in wheat.", Plant Biology 2014, Portland, Oregon, USA, July 12-16, 2014. (Poster)
2014 - View publication details
Bykova, N.V., Hu, J.-N., Radovanovic, N., You, F.M., and Fan, T. (2014). "Quantitative proteomic approaches to revealing mechanisms of seed dormancy control and pre-harvest sprouting resistance in wheat.", 1st INPPO World Congress on Plant Proteomics: Methodology to Biology, Hamburg, Germany, August 31- September 4, 2014, Member of the Scientific Organizing Committee; Presentation.
2014 - View publication details
Bykova, N.V., Hu, J.-N., Rampitsch, C., Fan, T., and Radovanovic, N. (2014). "Quantitative comparative proteomic profiling of tissue-specific and membrane-associated seed proteomes in pre-harvest sprouting resistant and susceptible hybrid wheat genotypes.", 2nd Canadian Wheat Symposium, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, June 8-11, 2014. (Poster)
2014 - View publication details
Ma, Z., Marsolais, F., Igamberdiev, A.U., and Bykova, N.V. (2014). "Metabolism of organic acids in barley seeds during germination.", Plant Biology 2014, Portland, Oregon, USA, July 12-16, 2014, Presentation. (Poster)
2014 - View publication details