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Gravitropic moss cells default to spiral growth on the clinostat and in microgravity during spaceflightIn addition to shoots and roots, the gravity (g)-vector orients the growth of specialized cells such as the apical cell of dark-grown moss protonemata. Each apical cell of the moss Ceratodon purpureus senses the g-vector and adjusts polar growth accordingly producing entire cultures of upright protonemata (negative gravitropism). The effect of withdrawing a constant gravity stimulus on moss growth was studied on two NASA Space Shuttle (STS) missions as well as during clinostat rotation on earth. Cultures grown in microgravity (spaceflight) on the STS-87 mission exhibited two successive phases of non-random growth and patterning, a radial outgrowth followed by the formation of net clockwise spiral growth. Also, cultures pre-aligned by unilateral light developed clockwise hooks during the subsequent dark period. The second spaceflight experiment flew on STS-107 which disintegrated during its descent on 1 February 2003. However, most of the moss experimental hardware was recovered on the ground, and most cultures, which had been chemically fixed during spaceflight, were retrieved. Almost all intact STS-107 cultures displayed strong spiral growth. Non-random culture growth including clockwise spiral growth was also observed after clinostat rotation. Together these data demonstrate the existence of default non-random growth patterns that develop at a population level in microgravity, a response that must normally be overridden and masked by a constant g-vector on earth.
Document ID
20050219392
Acquisition Source
Kennedy Space Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Kern, Volker D.
(Ohio State University 318 W. 12th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210, United States)
Schwuchow, Jochen M.
Reed, David W.
Nadeau, Jeanette A.
Lucas, Jessica
Skripnikov, Alexander
Sack, Fred D.
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 2005
Publication Information
Publication: Planta
Volume: 221
Issue: 1
ISSN: 0032-0935
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG10-0263
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG10-0179
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Non-NASA Center
manned
NASA Experiment Number 9600011
short duration
NASA Discipline Plant Biology
STS-87 Shuttle Project
NASA Experiment Number 9600005
Flight Experiment
STS-107 Shuttle Project

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