Source: MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV submitted to NRP
FLUORESCENCE STEREOMICROSCOPE FOR COTTON FIBER AND AGRICULTURAL RELATED RESEARCH
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
NRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0195637
Grant No.
2003-35301-13157
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
2003-00969
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jul 1, 2003
Project End Date
Jun 30, 2004
Grant Year
2003
Program Code
[52.2]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV
(N/A)
MISSISSIPPI STATE,MS 39762
Performing Department
BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Non Technical Summary
Cotton is an important natural fiber source for the world?s textile industry and is the fourth leading crop in the US. Although the integrated events in the fiber development have been known for a long time, the molecular basis for fiber development is not understood. Many genes involved in the control of fiber synthesis and development have been isolated and characterized. In this study, a stereomicroscope equipped with an epi-fluorescence detector and microscope camera will be purchased and used in the study of fiber promoter activities, transcriptional regulation, and functional role of cotton fiber genes. The equipment will be also used for a newly developed project to study the differentiation and cell cycle control of fiber cells. The understanding of molecular mechanisms of fiber development will be useful in cotton genetic engineering for fiber modification and improvement.
Animal Health Component
10%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
90%
Applied
10%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2062499103010%
2062499104050%
2062499105040%
Knowledge Area
206 - Basic Plant Biology;

Subject Of Investigation
2499 - Plant research, general;

Field Of Science
1040 - Molecular biology; 1030 - Cellular biology; 1050 - Developmental biology;
Goals / Objectives
Acquire a stereomicroscope equipped with an epi-fluorescence detector and microscope camera. Analyze fiber promoter activities and functional role of several cotton genes (Ltp, ghprp, and GhMyb7) specifically expressed in fibers. Study transcriptional regulation of the fiber lipid transfer protein gene Ltp3 by the GhMYB7 protein. Investigate the differentiation and cell cycle control of fiber cells.
Project Methods
Agrobacterium-mediated and particle gun bombardment methods will be used for the generation of transgenic cotton plants for determining the fiber promoter activities. A recently developed method for fiber expression assay, using 0-2 DPA cotton ovules for particle bombardment, will be also used for fiber promoter activity study. The promoter activities of cotton genes will be also examined in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana using a heterologous system. Transcriptional activation of Ltp3 by GhMYB7 will be determined by co-transfection of cotton ovules with an effector plasmid encoding the GhMYB7 protein and a reporter plasmid containing Ltp3 promoter/regulatory elements and the GUS gene. The cis elements of a fiber CDKA gene will be studied by directing GUS expression in a specific period on developing trichomes in transgenic Arabidopsis and cotton plants.

Progress 07/01/03 to 06/30/04

Outputs
A stereomicroscope equipped with an epi-fluorescence detector and microscopic camera has been purchased for the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Mississippi State University. The microscope is mainly used for cotton fiber research, especially for the analysis of fiber promoter activities and functional role of several cotton genes specifically expressed in fibers. The stereomicroscope is also used specifically in the study of transcriptional regulation of a fiber lipid transfer protein gene Ltp3. We have also used the microscope to study the differentiation and cell cycle control of fiber and Arabidopsis cells. Using the microscope, we have observed that the promoter of the cotton A-type cyclin-dependent kinase gene CDKA can direct the expression of the E. coli glucuronidase (GUS) gene in fiber cells when the cotton ovules were bombarded with a DNA construct containing the CDKA promoter fused with GUS.

Impacts
The acquisition of the fluorescence stereomicroscope enhances the infrastructure for research in Plant Molecular Biology for the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and allows us to study molecular mechanisms of cotton fiber development.

Publications

  • None. 2004


Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03

Outputs
A stereomicroscope equipped with an epi-fluorescence detector and microscopic camera has been purchased for the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Mississippi State University. The microscope will be used for cotton fiber research, especially for the analysis of fiber promoter activities and functional role of several cotton genes specifically expressed in fibers. The stereomicroscope will be also used specifically in the study of transcriptional regulation of a fiber lipid transfer protein gene Ltp3. We are currently using the microscope to study the differentiation and cell cycle control of fiber cells. Using the microscope, we have observed that the promoter of a cotton CDKA gene can direct the expression of the E. coli GUS gene in fiber cells when the cotton ovules were bombarded with a DNA construct containing the promoter fused with GUS and cultured in a solid medium.

Impacts
The acquisition of the fluorescence stereomicroscope enhances the infrastructure for research in Plant Molecular Biology for the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and allows us to study molecular mechanisms of cotton fiber development.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period