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., Hoehn, B., Rampitsch, C., Hu, J., Stebbing, J.A., Knox, R. (2011). Thiol redox-sensitive seed proteome in dormant and non-dormant hybrid genotypes of wheat. Phytochemistry, [online] 72(10), 1162-1172. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2010.12.021
2011 - View publication details
Bykova, N.V., Hoehn, B., Rampitsch, C., Banks, T., Stebbing, J.A., Fan, T., Knox, R. (2011). Redox-sensitive proteome and antioxidant strategies in wheat seed dormancy control. Proteomics, [online] 11(5), 865-882. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pmic.200900810
2011 - View publication details
Igamberdiev, A.U., Bykova, N.V., and Hill, R.D. (2011). "Structural and functional properties of class 1 plant hemoglobins.", IUBMB Life, 63(3), pp. 146-152. doi : 10.1002/iub.439
2011 - View publication details
Igamberdiev, A.U., Bykova, N.V., and Kleczkowski, L.A. (2010). "Plant adaptation to low oxygen: switching to the alternative electron acceptor and the alternative energy currency.", Plant Biology 2010: Joint meeting of the Canadian Society of Plant Physiologists (CSPP) and American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB), Montréal Convention Centre, Montréal, QC, Canada, July 31-August 4, 2010, P07033. (Abstract)
2010 - View publication details
Bykova, N.V., Hoehn, B., Rampitsch, C., Hu, J., Stebbing, J.A., and Knox, R.E. (2010). "Thiol redox-sensitive proteome and antioxidant protective mechanisms in wheat dormancy control.", Plant Biology 2010: Joint meeting of the Canadian Society of Plant Physiologists (CSPP) and American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB), Montréal Convention Centre, Montréal, QC, Canada, July 31-August 4, 2010, P02045. (Abstract)
2010 - View publication details
Igamberdiev, A.U., Bykova, N.V., Shah, J.K., and Hill, R.D. (2010). "Anoxic nitric oxide cycling in plants: participating reactions and possible mechanisms.", Physiologia Plantarum, 138(2), pp. 393-404. doi : 10.1111/j.1399-3054.2009.01314.x
2010 - View publication details
Rampitsch, C., Subramaniam, R., Djuric-Ciganovic, S., Bykova, N.V. (2010). The phosphoproteome of Fusarium graminearum at the onset of nitrogen starvation. Proteomics, [online] 10(1), 124-140. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pmic.200800399
2010 - View publication details
Bykova, N.V. (2009). "Redox-Sensitive Proteome and Antioxidant Strategies in the innate immune response to Fusarium Graminearum in wheat.", 6th Canadian Workshop on Fusarium Head Blight (CWFHB) / Colloque canadien sur la fusariose, Marriott Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada, November 1-4, 2009. (Presentation)
2009 - View publication details
Rampitsch, C., Subramaniam, R., Bykova, N.V., and Djuric-Ciganovic, S. (2009). "Protein phosphorylation and DON synthesis: Candidate phosphopeptides from wild-type and map kinase (mgv1)-deficient Fusarium graminearum.", 6th Canadian Workshop on Fusarium Head Blight (CWFHB) / Colloque canadien sur la fusariose, Marriott Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada, November 1-4, 2009, P68. (Abstract)
2009 - View publication details
Rampitsch, C. and Bykova, N.V. (2009). "Methods for Functional Proteomic Analyses.", in Somers, Daryl J. et. Al. (eds.) - Plant Genomics: Methods and Protocols (Methods in Molecular Biology), Human Sciences Press, New York, NY, USA.
2009 - View publication details
Bykova, N.V., Hoehn, B., Rampitsch, C., Banks, T.W., Stebbing, J.A., Fan, T., and Knox, R.E. (2009). "Redox-sensitive proteome and antioxidant strategies in wheat seed dormancy control.", Meeting on Plant Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species, Helsinki, Finland, July 8-10, 2009, Abstract O15-118. (Presentation)
2009 - View publication details
Igamberdiev, A.U., Bykova, N.V., and Hill, R.D. (2009). "Nitric oxide production and scavenging in plants under hypoxic conditions.", Meeting on Plant Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species, Helsinki, Finland, July 8-10, 2009, Abstract O25-106. (Presentation)
2009 - View publication details
Rampitsch, C., Subramaniam, R., Djuric-Ciganovic, S., and Bykova, N.V. (2009). "The phosphoproteome of Fusarium graminearum at the onset of nitrogen starvation reveals phosphopeptides from proteins with a potential role in mycotoxin regulation.", 11th International Congress on Amino Acids, Peptides and Proteins, Vienna, Austria, August 3-7, 2009, Abstract. Amino Acids 37: 112-113. (Abstract)
2009 - View publication details
Rampitsch, C., Subramaniam, R., Bykova, N.V., and Beimcik, E. (2008). "Phosphopeptide analysis using proteomics: a basis for identifying signalling pathways in the wheat pathogen Fusarium graminearum.", Plant & Animal Genome XVI Conference, Town & Country Convention Center, San Diego, CA, USA, January 12-16, 2008. (Abstract)
2008 - View publication details
Rampitsch, C., Soltani, B.M., Bakkeren, G., and Bykova, N.V. (2007). "Proteomic analyses of enriched haustoria from the compatible interaction between wheat and wheat leaf rust (Puccinia triticina).", 24th Annual Missouri Plant Biology Symposium (Plant Protein Phosphorylation-Dephosphorylation and Mini-Symposium on Plant Proteomics), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA, May 22-25, 2007.
2007 - View publication details
Juszczuk, I.M., Bykova, N.V., and Møller, I.M. (2007). "Protein phosphorylation in plant mitochondria.", Physiologia Plantarum, 129(1), pp. 90-103. doi : 10.1111/j.1399-3054.2006.00793.x
2007 - View publication details
Linning, R., Hu, G.G., McCallum, B.D., Banks, T.W., Cloutier, S., Rampitsch, C., Bykova, N.V., Butterfield, Y., Liu, J., Kirkpatrick, R., Stott, J., Yang, G., Smailus, D., Jones, D.L., Marra, M., Schein, J.E., and Bakkeren, G. (2006). "An annotated wheat leaf rust EST database.", 2006 CPS British Columbia Regional Meeting, AAFC Pacific Agriculture Research Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada, October 23-24, 2006.
2006 - View publication details
Bakkeren, G., Linning, R., Hu, G.G., McCallum, B.D., Banks, T.W., Cloutier, S., Rampitsch, C., Bykova, N.V., Butterfield, Y., Liu, J., Kirkpatrick, R., Stott, J., Yang, G., Smailus, D., Jones, D.L., Marra, M., and Schein, J.E. (2006). "Genomic and proteomic approaches to tackle wheat leaf rust.", 2006 CPS British Columbia Regional Meeting, AAFC Pacific Agriculture Research Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada, October 23-24, 2006.
2006 - View publication details
Bykova, N.V., Hoehn, B., Stebbing, J.A., Rampitsch, C., Knox, R.E., Jordan, M.A., and Ens, W. (2006). "Redox signalling in dormant and germinating wheat seeds studied by a disulphide proteomics approach.", 54th ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics, Seattle, WA, USA, June 3-7, 2006, 41S: MP 404.
2006 - View publication details
Rampitsch, C., Bykova, N.V., Mauthe, W.R., Yakandawala, N., and Jordan, M.C. (2006). "Phosphoproteomic profiling of wheat callus labelled in vivo.", Plant Science, 171(4), pp. 488-496.
2006 - View publication details