The Ionic and Electrical Control of Growth and Development in Plants

罗宾逊博士建议在两个系统中研究极性的发育和表达：岩藻的合子，Pelvetia和胡萝卜的早期体细胞胚胎。他将专注于极性的离子和电方面，以及离子与细胞骨架的相互作用。在Pelvetia的案例中，他将使用荧光钙指示剂fura 2来确定钙离子在受精卵中的空间分布，以解决关于钙梯度在极轴发育中的作用的争议。利用视频图像处理系统进行定量荧光研究，以确定钙离子梯度、肌动蛋白微丝不对称、微管不对称和根状体形成之间的时间关系。这些因果关系也将被探讨。罗宾逊博士的研究结果表明，胡萝卜体细胞胚胎的极性也与离子电流有关，而质子是离子电流的一个组成部分。他将继续研究携带电流的离子以及离子电流与胚胎发育和极性生长素运输的关系。他将使用针对质膜h - atp酶的抗体在细胞和组织水平上定位这种蛋白质。他还将把电场应用于胡萝卜原生质体，并确定对第一次细胞分裂的时间和面以及胚胎发生的刺激的影响。他将测定原生质膜上h - atp酶在外加电场作用下的分布。关于内源电流是否对发育中的植物胚胎极性的建立很重要，双方都有证据。极性的建立是在先前对称的受精卵中形成不对称模式的第一个事件，最终导致不对称的成年生物。这项研究试图澄清这些电流在这种早期模式事件中的参与。

Dr. Robinson proposes to study the development and expression of polarity in two systems: the zygotes of the fucoid alga, Pelvetia, and the early somatic embryos of carrot. He will focus on the ionic and electrical aspects of polarity, and the interactions of ions with the cytoskeleton. In the case of Pelvetia, he will use the fluorescent calcium indicator fura 2 to determine the spatial distribution of calcium ions in the zygote in order to resolve the controversy over the role of calcium gradients in polar axis development. Quantitative fluorescence studies, utilizing a video image processing system, will be carried out to determine the temporal relationships between calcium ion gradients, actin microfilament asymmetries, microtubule asymmetries and rhizoid formation. The causal relationships of these will also be explored. Dr. Robinson's results indicate that polarity in carrot somatic embryos is also associated with ionic currents and that protons are one component of the current. He will continue his studies to identify the current-carrying ions and the relationship of the ionic current to embryonic development and polar auxin transport. He will use antibodies to the plasma membrane H-ATPase to localize this protein at both the cellular and tissue level. He will also apply electrical fields to carrot protoplasts and determine the effects on the timing and plane of first cell division and the stimulation of embryogenesis. He will determine the distribution of the H-ATPase of protoplast plasma membranes in response to applied electrical fields. %%% There is evidence on both sides of the issue of whether endogenous electrical currents are important for the establishment of polarity in developing plant embryos. This establishment of polarity is the first event in formation of an asymmetric pattern in a previously symmetrical fertilized egg resulting ultimately in the asymmetric adult organism. This study it to attempt to clarify the involvement of these currents in this early patterning event.