Dissertation Enhancement: Immunolocalization of a Dehydrin-like Protein in Cornus sericea Xylem

该项目的资助将使普渡大学园艺与景观建筑系Edward Ashworth博士的博士生Dale Karlson先生在日本京都大学木材研究所Takao Itoh博士的实验室进行论文研究。研究人员将努力了解植物极端耐寒性的分子方面。该项目的目的是表征24 kDa脱氢样木质部蛋白的位置，利用免疫定位，以确定其在寒化过程中增强红山茱萸（C. sericea）抗冻性的潜在功能作用。低温胁迫下的存活是植物分布和生产力的主要限制因素。蚕丝是最耐寒的植物之一。对该物种中与冷驯化相关的蛋白质积累的研究将有可能提供对极端耐受性生物特有的特定分子特征的见解。这种见解将增加对抗冻性复杂性状的理解，对农业具有重要意义。这个项目将受益于这两个实验室的互补优势。特别是，研究生将受益于伊藤博士在木本植物组织超微切开术方面的独特专业知识。

9908427AshworthSupport for this project will enable Mr. Dale Karlson, a Ph.D. candidate with Dr. Edward Ashworth, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, to conduct dissertation research in the laboratory of Dr. Takao Itoh, Wood Research Institute, Kyoto University, Japan. The researchers will work to understand the molecular aspects of extreme cold hardiness in plants. The objective of the project is to characterize the location of a 24 kDa dehydrin-like xylem protein, using immunolocalization, to ascertain its potential functional roles for enhancement of freezing tolerance during cold acclimation in the red osier dogwood (C. sericea). Survival of low temperature stress is a major limiting factor of plant distribution and productivity. C. Sericea is one of the most freeze tolerant plant species. Investigations concerning the accumulation of cold acclimation related proteins in this species would potentially provide insight on specific molecular characteristics unique to extremely tolerant organisms. Such insight would increase understanding of the complex trait of freeze tolerance, with important implications for agriculture. This project will benefit from the complementary strengths of the two laboratories. In particular, the graduate student will benefit from Dr. Itoh's unique expertise in ultra-microtomy of woody plant tissue.