Objective
The principal goal of the project is to clarify the functional role of microtubule (MT) phosphorylation in MT orientation and thus also in the organisation of the MT cytoskeleton. This will be done in view of the MT's role in vesicular secretion, in division, elongation and differentiation of plant cells under application of external stimuli, such as phytohormones (auxins and ethylene) and microgravity. The role of MT phosphorylation (e. g. tubulin modification namely) in cell signal transduction from external stimuli to cell developmental responses will be elucidated using technology for MT visualisation in living cells based on green fluorescent protein (GFP).
For this purpose different approaches with inhibitors of protein phosphorylation/dephosphorylation and highly efficient antiMT drugs will be applied to investigate MT reorganization during cell division, cell growth and differentiation in tobacco BY-2 cells and in specialized cells of Arabidopsis seedlings (roots, hypocotyls, leaves) expressing chimaeric genes GFP-a-tubulin and GFP-MAP4. At the same time certain inhibitors of phosphorylation/dephosphorylation and anti-MT drugs will be used to clarify the regulatory role of hormones and microgravity on MT position and vesicular secretion.
Respectively, the role of different types of protein kinases, regulated by secondary messengers, as well as tubulin phosphorylation on Ser/Thr and Tyr residues in intracellular signal transduction will be evaluated by biochemical methods, including reactivity with specific antibodies against phosphoresidues.
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
Data not availableCoordinator
2610 Wilrijk (Antwerpen)
Belgium