Reporter Gene Analyses of Arabidopsis After Exposure to Abiotic Stresses Associated with Spaceflight Environments
Changes in gene expression associated with Arabidopsis thaliana after exposure to one of four abiotic stresses were analyzed salient to spaceflight environments: vibration, lack of gravity vector, reduction in temperature. The seven genes that were analyzed for response to these abiotic stresses included GFP, GUS, NAP, ACC Synthase, Cor78, EIR1, and TCH4. Transgene expression was analyzed qualitatively with fluorescent imaging and quantitatively with Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR).
Above: Adh/GFP expression in root apex after being subjected to a cold environment for 48 hours.
Data obtained from transgene analyses demonstrated that stresses induced by a low temperature environment affected patterns of gene expression in both the Adh and HSP transgenes. In contrast, neither Adh or HSP were induced by plants subjected to the abiotic stresses of lack of gravity vector or vibration.
Quantitative analyses of native gene expression revealed that the NAP gene was induced in plants subjected to clinorotation, suggesting that the root apex may contain a gravity sensitive area where the NAP gene plays a vital role in cell expansion.
Above: Graphic representation of the Ct values among the different genes analyzed.
Author: Kristen P. Beavers, United States Air Force Academy
Spaceflight and Life Sciences Training Program 2004
Flight Engineering and Management Group
Principal Investigators:
Anna-Lisa Paul, University of Florida/SLSL Kennedy Space Center
Dr. Robert J. Ferl, University of Florida/SLSL Kennedy Space Center
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