Characterization of Moss Growth Regulation by Fatty Acid Ethanolamide Analogs
Abstract
N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) are bioactive lipid signaling molecules that regulate plant growth and development, with their cellular levels largely controlled by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). In Arabidopsis thaliana, synthetic NAE analogs such as pentadecylphenol ethanolamide (Pdp EA) and cardanol ethanolamide (Cardanol EA) enhance FAAH activity and alleviate NAE-induced growth inhibition, highlighting how subtle structural modifications can influence NAE metabolism and developmental outcomes. We examined the effects of FAAH-enhancing NAE analogs on gametophyte development in the moss Physcomitrium patens to assess the evolutionary conservation and mechanistic basis of NAE-mediated growth regulation. Gametophytes were treated with increasing concentrations (1–100 µM) of Pdp EA or Cardanol EA, and growth was monitored over a 29-day period and analyzed using Image J. Preliminary results show clear dose-dependent responses to both analogs. While low concentrations produced growth comparable to untreated controls, higher concentrations altered growth trajectories, with compound-specific enhancement emerging at later developmental stages. These trends mirror observations in Arabidopsis and support the hypothesis that FAAH-enhancing NAE analogs promote growth by increasing NAE turnover. Ongoing analyses combine morphological and molecular approaches to resolve underlying mechanisms. Microscopy-based assessment of actin organization and chloroplast structure will evaluate effects on cellular architecture and photosynthetic capacity, while biochemical assays and qPCR analysis of FAAH and growth-associated genes will test whether growth enhancement reflects direct enzymatic activation, receptor-mediated signaling, or transcriptional regulation. Together, this work aims to define how NAE metabolism contributes to growth control across plant evolutionary lineages.
Start Time
15-4-2026 9:00 AM
End Time
15-4-2026 10:00 AM
Room Number
311
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Presentation Subtype
Grad/Comp Orals
Presentation Category
Science, Technology, and Engineering
Student Type
Graduate
Faculty Mentor
Aruna Kilaru
Characterization of Moss Growth Regulation by Fatty Acid Ethanolamide Analogs
311
N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) are bioactive lipid signaling molecules that regulate plant growth and development, with their cellular levels largely controlled by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). In Arabidopsis thaliana, synthetic NAE analogs such as pentadecylphenol ethanolamide (Pdp EA) and cardanol ethanolamide (Cardanol EA) enhance FAAH activity and alleviate NAE-induced growth inhibition, highlighting how subtle structural modifications can influence NAE metabolism and developmental outcomes. We examined the effects of FAAH-enhancing NAE analogs on gametophyte development in the moss Physcomitrium patens to assess the evolutionary conservation and mechanistic basis of NAE-mediated growth regulation. Gametophytes were treated with increasing concentrations (1–100 µM) of Pdp EA or Cardanol EA, and growth was monitored over a 29-day period and analyzed using Image J. Preliminary results show clear dose-dependent responses to both analogs. While low concentrations produced growth comparable to untreated controls, higher concentrations altered growth trajectories, with compound-specific enhancement emerging at later developmental stages. These trends mirror observations in Arabidopsis and support the hypothesis that FAAH-enhancing NAE analogs promote growth by increasing NAE turnover. Ongoing analyses combine morphological and molecular approaches to resolve underlying mechanisms. Microscopy-based assessment of actin organization and chloroplast structure will evaluate effects on cellular architecture and photosynthetic capacity, while biochemical assays and qPCR analysis of FAAH and growth-associated genes will test whether growth enhancement reflects direct enzymatic activation, receptor-mediated signaling, or transcriptional regulation. Together, this work aims to define how NAE metabolism contributes to growth control across plant evolutionary lineages.
