The Role of Nitric Oxide and cGMP in Arabidopsis thaliana Root Growth
Department
Biological Sciences
Major
Biological Sciences and Biochemical Engineering
Research Advisor
Aronstam, Robert
Advisor's Department
Biological Sciences
Funding Source
UMR Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experiences (OURE)
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO), a known signal molecule in animal cells, is thought to act as a signaling molecule in plants. Within the plant cell, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) produces NO, which then activates guanylate cyclase to give cyclic guanylate monophosphate (cGMP) and a growth response. A. thaliana plants were grown initially on agar/MS media and then transferred to media containing experimental drugs. Root lengths were measured from digital images using Scion Image software. NO donor drugs, Spermine and DEA, enhanced root growth at low concentrations and inhibited growth at high concentrations. An NO scavenger, PTIO, and NOS inhibitor, L-NAME, decreased root growth. Pharmacological accumulation of cGMP by adding dibutryl cGMP, a guanylate cyclase inhibitory drug, or by blocking cGMP specific phosphodiesterase activity with IBMX enhanced root elongation. ODQ, a guanylate cyclase inhibitor and Carboxyl- PTIO, a scavenger of NO and NOS inhibitor, also affected root elongation.
Biography
Jacob is a junior attending the University of Missouri--Rolla majoring in Biochemical Engineering and Biological Sciences. He is the son of Jake Elmer and Valerie Rivera and is from Merritt Island, FL. On campus he is involved in Omega Chi Sigma, Phi Sigma, and the Helix Biological Society. He is currently employed as a LEAD PLA for Calc I and I and enjoys fishing. Jacob will pursue a career in advanced life support systems.
Research Category
Natural Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Presentation Date
12 Apr 2006, 1:00 pm
The Role of Nitric Oxide and cGMP in Arabidopsis thaliana Root Growth
Nitric oxide (NO), a known signal molecule in animal cells, is thought to act as a signaling molecule in plants. Within the plant cell, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) produces NO, which then activates guanylate cyclase to give cyclic guanylate monophosphate (cGMP) and a growth response. A. thaliana plants were grown initially on agar/MS media and then transferred to media containing experimental drugs. Root lengths were measured from digital images using Scion Image software. NO donor drugs, Spermine and DEA, enhanced root growth at low concentrations and inhibited growth at high concentrations. An NO scavenger, PTIO, and NOS inhibitor, L-NAME, decreased root growth. Pharmacological accumulation of cGMP by adding dibutryl cGMP, a guanylate cyclase inhibitory drug, or by blocking cGMP specific phosphodiesterase activity with IBMX enhanced root elongation. ODQ, a guanylate cyclase inhibitor and Carboxyl- PTIO, a scavenger of NO and NOS inhibitor, also affected root elongation.
Comments
Joint project with Kristin Russell