Effect of Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors and Dibutyryl cGMP on Gravitropism in Arabidopsis thaliana

Presenter Information

Jacob James Elmer
Jen Jacobi
Kristine Russell

Department

Biological Sciences

Research Advisor

Porterfield, D. M.

Advisor's Department

Biological Sciences

Abstract

Plant roots always orient themselves in the direction of the force of gravity. When reoriented 90 degrees, seedling roots were observed to respond by reorienting their root tips in the same fashion and then growing in that direction. The mechanism for this response, as suggested by Pagnussat et al. (2003)¹, is initiated by nitric oxide and results in cGMP production. When we exposed A. thaliana seedling roots to cGMP, those roots reoriented quicker than control roots. The roots were also exposed to phosphodiesterase inhibitors (drugs that prevent the natural degradation of cGMP), which sensitized the roots to the NO- signal and gave an earlier response to reorientation. These results indicate that cGMP and the PDE inhibitors encourage the differential growth in root reorientation.

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Document Type

Presentation

Presentation Date

2004-2005

Recommended Citation

Elmer, Jacob James; Jacobi, Jen; and Russell, Kristine, "Effect of Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors and Dibutyryl cGMP on Gravitropism in Arabidopsis thaliana" (2004). Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OURE). 234.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/oure/234