Date of Award

Spring 2011

Project Type

Thesis

Program or Major

Genetics

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Estella M Hrabak

Abstract

Reversible protein phosphorylation is required for presumably most biological pathways. One of the major enzymes involved in eukaryotic dephosphorylation is Protein Phosphatase 2A (PP2A). PP2A is composed of three subunits: A (scaffolding), B (regulatory), and C (catalytic). Our lab is interested in determining the function of the five C subunits (C1, C2, C3, C4 and C5) in Arabidopsis thaliana. We have identified a Na+-induced altered root growth phenotype in c4 mutant plants. The goal of this project was to determine expression of the five C subunit genes throughout the life cycle of Arabidopsis with emphasis on correlating the location of C4 subunit expression to the known root phenotype. C4 gene expression was observed in the roots and expression was not changed in the presence of additional NaCl or mannitol. Expression of all C subunits was ubiquitous and similar throughout the Arabidopsis life cycle with the highest expression in the root tips.

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