Genetic Approaches to Studying ATP Signaling in Root Hairs

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Genetic Approaches to Studying ATP Signaling in
Root Hairs

• Discovery Lab Lecture
• March 22, 2007

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Until now we have used only chemical approach to
clarify how root hair growth is regulated

• Chemicals tested earlier or this round include
• ADP?S
• apyrase inhibitors (3)
• generic phosphatase inhibitors (3)
• PPADS
• NO agonists/antagonists

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Potential new approach
Now that we know chemical inhibition of apyrase
can inhibit root hair growth, there is a
rationale for testing whether genetic
modification of apyrase expression can affect
root hair growth.
4
Overexpression of apyrase results in more rapid
growth of pollen tubes and hypocotyls
5
Suppression of Apyrase Expression Inhibits Root
Shoot Growth
Note Suppression above is by inducing RNAi
construct
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Questions

• Will overexpression of APY1 and APY2 make root
  hairs grow faster
• (do APY1 APY2 function in root hairs?)
• Will suppression of APY1 and APY2 reduce the rate
  of root hair growth?

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Today

• Plant seeds for next weeks experiment
• Look ahead to Round 4 (TWO experiments)
• Discuss FRI summer research program FRI
  outreach program