GRAVITATIONAL FIELD RELATED CHANGES IN GENE EXPRESSION AFTER SHORT -TERM EXPOSURE OF ARABIDOPSIS THAL1ANA CELL CULTURES

摘要

Cell cultures of Arabidopsis thaliana (cv. Columbia) were used to screen for early changes in gene expression in response to altered gravitational fields. Genes of interest (mainly components of signalling chains) were selected from a larger group, the expression of which was affected under hypergravity [Martzivanou M. and Hampp R., Physiol. Plant., 118, 221-231,2003]. Transcript-ional changes of these genes were studied within a period of up to 10 min of exposure to clinorotation (random positioning machine), magnetophoresis, and hypergravity (8 g). Microarrays identified a set of transcription factor genes which responded in a treatment-specific way. The respective transcripts were quantified by real time RT PCR. As most responses occurred within 10 min of treatment, such genes can be used for the investigation of microgravity-related alterations in gene expression under sounding rocket conditions (TEXUS, MAXUS).