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Spaceflight exposure effects on transcription, activity, and localization of alcohol dehydrogenase in the roots of Arabidopsis thalianaAlthough considerable research and speculation have been directed toward understanding a plant's perception of gravity and the resulting gravitropic responses, little is known about the role of gravity-dependent physical processes in normal physiological function. These studies were conducted to determine whether the roots of plants exposed to spaceflight conditions may be experiencing hypoxia. Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. plants were grown in agar medium during 6 or 11 d of spaceflight exposure on shuttle missions STS-54 (CHROMEX-03) and STS-68 (CHROMEX-05), respectively. The analysis included measurement of agar redox potential and root alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity, localization, and expression. ADH activity increased by 89% as a result of spaceflight exposure for both CHROMEX-03 and -05 experiments, and ADH RNase protection assays revealed a 136% increase in ADH mRNA. The increase in ADH activity associated with the spaceflight roots was realized by a 28% decrease in oxygen availability in a ground-based study; however, no reduction in redox potential was observed in measurements of the spaceflight bulk agar. Spaceflight exposure appears to effect a hypoxic response in the roots of agar-grown plants that may be caused by changes in gravity-mediated fluid and/or gas behavior.
Document ID
20040173015
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Porterfield, D. M.
(Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Baton Rouge 70803, United States)
Matthews, S. W.
Daugherty, C. J.
Musgrave, M. E.
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
March 1, 1997
Publication Information
Publication: Plant physiology
Volume: 113
Issue: 3
ISSN: 0032-0889
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
STS-68 Shuttle Project
manned
Non-NASA Center
STS-54 Shuttle Project
NASA Discipline Plant Biology
short duration
Flight Experiment

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