Dissertation Research: In Vivo and In Vitro Effects of Plant Allelochemicals on Glutathione Transferase Expression and Function

mcphon谷胱甘肽转移酶是一个普遍存在于动植物体内的基因家族。谷胱甘肽转移酶参与将谷胱甘肽偶联到活性有机分子，特别是亲脂或亲脂分子，如许多农药和植物化感化学物质。本研究将分析苹果芽蛾抗药和敏感菌株的谷胱甘肽转移酶，并确定这类酶的表达和功能。不同化学成分的植物提取物对谷胱甘肽转移酶表达和活性的影响将通过放射性谷胱甘肽转移酶信使RNA和放置在大肠杆菌（一种用于分子遗传学研究的模式细菌）中的纯化基因工程谷胱甘肽转移酶进行监测。确定谷胱甘肽转移酶表达和活性与外来有机分子之间的相互作用将有助于更好地了解生物体处理潜在有害化合物的机制。由于谷胱甘肽转移酶存在于细菌、植物和动物中，因此所获得的知识将广泛适用，从加深对杀虫剂耐药性的了解到加深对人类抗癌药物耐药性的了解。

9423356 McPheron Glutathione transferases are a ubiquitous gene family found in plants and animals. Glutathione transferases are involved in the conjugation of glutathione to reactive organic molecules, especially lipophilic or fat-loving molecules like many pesticides and plant allelochemicals. This research will analyze glutathione transferaqes in insecticide-resistant and insecticide-susceptible strains of an apple bud moth, and determine how this class of enzymes is expressed and functions. The effects of plant extracts of differing chemistries on glutathione transferase expression and activity will be monitored using radioactive glutathione transferase messenger RNA and also by using purified genetically-engineered glutathione transferases placed in E. coli ( a model bacterium used in molecular- genetic studies). Defining the interaction between glutathione transferase expression and activity and foreign organic molecules will lead to a greater understanding of the mechanisms by which organisms deal with potentially damaging chemical compounds. Because glutathione transferases are found in bacteria, plants and animals, the knowledge gained will be broadly applicable, ranging from increased understanding insecticide resistance to increased understanding of resistance to anti-cancer drugs in humans.