Magdiel Lim Sheng Satha

Thesis topic: Characterization of Putative Sterol Esterases in Arabidopsis thaliana • Conducted plant crossing (interbreeding) • Genetically modified plant cell through particle bombardment • Examined gene expression through RT-qPCR • Designed primer for PCR • Conducted confocal laser-scanning microscopy (CLSM) • Analyzed lipid using mass spectrometry (MS), radioisotope and thin-layer chromatography (TLC)

• Managed gene transformation tasks in plant and bacteria using gene gun and electroporation. • Utilized Epifluorescence microscopy to measure genetically modified plant cells • Analyzed data using ImageJ and Microsoft Excel

Primary Metabolites and Sterol Profiling (Metabolomics) • Extracted hydrophobic and hydrophilic metabolites • Applied Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in analyzing lipids, sugars, amino acids and alcohols • Investigated the distribution of metabolites using R and ClustVis

Characterization of Nanocellulose Producing Bacteria • Measured Cell growth using Cell growth quantifier • Successfully detected nanocellulose production from bacteria • Discovered biochemical activities of novel bacteria using API 20NE and API ZYM test • Analyzed nanocellulose producing gene through bioinformatic approach (Artemis and Mauve)

Analysis of Epilithic and Endolithic Bacteria • Conducted next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology • Operated transmission electron microscopy (TEM) • Carried out field work

Thesis topic: Cloning of the Gellan lyase gene from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius 49-1 • Cloned antibiotic resistant genes into bacteria • Conducted biochemical tests (Ninhydrin test, Biuret test, Lowry method) for amino acids and proteins • Conducted biochemical tests for polysaccharides (iodine test, Molish test, Bial test, Seliwanoff’s test, Benedict test) • Knowledge - LDH cytotoxicity assay and MTT assay - Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) - Blue-white screen

Plant Biochemistry, Microbiology