The Role of Nitric Oxide and cGMP in Arabidopsis thaliana Root Growth
Department
Biological Sciences
Major
Biological Sciences
Research Advisor
Aronstam, Robert
Advisor's Department
Biological Sciences
Funding Source
UMR Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experiences (OURE) Program
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
Kristin is a junior attending the University of Missouri-Rolla majoring in Biological Sciences with minors in Psychology and Chemistry. She is the daughter of Bill and Karla Russell of Benton, MO. She is involved on campus in many organizations including Phi Sigma Rho, Habitat for Humanity, Phi Sigma, and the Helix Biological Society. Kristin plans to pursue a career and an advanced degree in the genetics of human diseases.
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 Jacob Elmer