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, 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., Møller, I.M., Gardeström, P., Igamberdiev, A.U. (2014). The function of glycine decarboxylase complex is optimized to maintain high photorespiratory flux via buffering of its reaction products. Mitochondrion, [online] 19(PB), 357-364. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mito.2014.01.001
2014 - View publication details
Ahmed, A.A., Balogun, K.A., Bykova, N.V., Cheema, S.K. (2014). Novel regulatory roles of omega-3 fatty acids in metabolic pathways: A proteomics approach. Nutrition & Metabolism, [online] 11(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1743-7075-11-6
2014 - View publication details
Bykova, N.V., Hoehn, B., Rampitsch, C., Hu, J.-N., and Fan, T. (2013). "Redox-mediated regulation of wheat seed dormancy revealed through modification specific proteomics.", 11th International Conference on Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species in Plant, Warsaw, Poland. (Poster)
2013 - View publication details
Hu, J.-N., Stebbing, J.A., Fan, T., Rampitsch, C., and Bykova, N.V. (2013). "Proteomic analysis reveals changes in abundance, composition, and phosphorylation of membrane-associated protein complexes from wheat aleurone in response to alteration in seed dormancy.", CSPB Annual Meeting, Quebec City, Canada. (Poster)
2013 - View publication details
Bykova, N.V., Hu, J.-N., Rampitsch, C., Stebbing, J.A., and Fan, T. (2013). "Proteomic profiling of membrane-associated protein complexes in wheat aleurone tissue using Blue Native gels and label-free semi-quantitative LC-MS/MS approach.", 5th Canadian National Proteomics Network Symposium, Vancouver, BC, Canada. (Poster)
2013 - View publication details
Agrawal, G.K., Sarkar, A., Righetti, P.G., Pedreschi, R., Carpentier, S., Wang, T., Barkla, B.J., Kohli, A., Ndimba, B.K., Bykova, N.V., Rampitsch, C., Zolla, L., Rafudeen, M.S., Cramer, R., Bindschedler, L.V., Tsakirpaloglou, N., Ndimba, R.J., Farrant, J.M., Renaut, J., Job, D., Kikuchi, S., and Rakwal, R. (2013). "A decade of plant proteomics and mass spectrometry: Translation of technical advancements to food security and safety issues.", Mass Spectrometry Reviews, 32(5), pp. 335-365. doi : 10.1002/mas.21365
2013 - View publication details
Bykova, N.V. and Rampitsch, C. (2013). "Modulating protein function through reversible oxidation: Redox-mediated processes in plants revealed through proteomics.", Proteomics, 13(3-4), pp. 579-596. doi : 10.1002/pmic.201200270
2013 - View publication details
Ma, Z., Igamberdiev, A.U., and Bykova, N.V. (2012). "Metabolism of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species during germination of barley seeds with different levels of dormancy.", Canadian Society of Plant Biologists Meeting (CSPB 2012), University of Alberta Campus, Edmonton, AB, Canada, June 25-27, 2012. (Presentation)
2012 - View publication details
Bykova, N.V. and Igamberdiev, A.U. (2012). "Metabolism of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species during germination of barley seeds with different levels of dormancy.", Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society of Plant Physiologists (CSPP/SCPV 2012), University of Alberta Campus, Edmonton, AB, Canada, June 25-27, 2012. (Presentation)
2012 - View publication details
An, D., Bykova, N.V., and Debnath, S.C. (2012). "Identifying wild and cultivated cranberries and evaluating their relationships using morphology, and EST-PCR and ISSR markers.", Plant Canada 2012 (joint meeting of the Canadian Society of Agronomy (CSA), Canadian Society for Horticultural Science (CSHS), Certified Crop Advisors (CCA), North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX)): Adapting Crops to Change, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, July 16-19, 2012, P1 Abstract Id 3764, pp. p.44.
2012 - View publication details
Shah, J.K., Hebelstrup, K.H., Bykova, N.V., and Igamberdiev, A.U. (2012). "The biotechnological use of hemoglobin overexpression in barley.", Annual Meeting of the American Society of Plant Biology, Austin, TX, USA, July 31-August 3, 2012, Poster P02048. (Abstract)
2012 - View publication details
Bykova, N.V. (2012). "Differential and redox-sensitive proteomic analysis of pre-harvest sprouting tolerance.", 1st Canadian Wheat Symposium, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, November 30-December 2, 2011, Published in: Can. J. Plant Sci., 92(3), pp. 600.
2012 - View publication details
Debnath, S.C., Siow, Y.L., Petkau, J., An, D., Bykova, N.V. (2012). Molecular markers and antioxidant activity in berry crops: Genetic diversity analysis. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, [online] 92(6), 1121-1133. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/CJPS2011-240
2012 - View publication details
Rampitsch, C. and Bykova, N.V. (2012). "The beginnings of crop phosphoproteomics: exploring early warning systems of stress.", Frontiers in Plant Science, 3(144), pp. 1-15. doi : 10.3389/fpls.2012.00144
2012 - View publication details
Rampitsch, C. and Bykova, N.V. (2012). "Proteomics and plant disease: Advances in combating a major threat to the global food supply. (Review).", Proteomics, 12(4-5), pp. 673-690. doi : 10.1002/pmic.201100359
2012 - View publication details
Ma, Z., Igamberdiev, A.U., and Bykova, N.V. (2011). "The glycolytic and antioxidant H₂O₂ scavenging capacity of germinating barley seeds with different levels of dormancy.", Plant Canada 2011, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, NS, Canada, July 17-21, 2011. (Presentation)
2011 - View publication details
Debnath, S.C., Siow, Y.L., Petkau, J.C., An, D., and Bykova, N.V. (2011). "Molecular markers and antioxidant activity in berry crop diversity analysis.", Plant Canada 2011, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, NS, Canada, July 17-21, 2011, 78, Session 1. (Presentation)
2011 - View publication details
Hu, J., Hoehn, B., Rampitsch, C., and Bykova, N.V. (2011). "Impact of dormancy genotypes on differential protein expression profiles and redox-sensitive landscape of the proteome in hybrid spring wheat lines.", Plant Canada 2011, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, NS, Canada, July 17-21, 2011. (Poster)
2011 - View publication details