Title: Characterization of two novel plant proteins involved in water deficit stress response

(Research Advisor: Dr. Vytas Bankaitis, Biology Sponsor: Dr. Skip Bollenbacher, Mentor: Dr. Patrick Vincent)

Andrew Landstrom

One of the great challenges in plant biology is to elucidate the complex cellular mechanism of environmental stress response.  Since the availability of water is one of the most limiting factors for plant growth, a plant’s response to this environmental stress is an essential adaptation to its survival.  To this date, little is known about the mechanism of stress recognition in agriculture and the following cellular cascade events that protect the plants.  We have identified two genes in the plant genetic model Arabidopsis thaliana, which may prove to be critical for the understanding of these cascade events.  Indeed, we have determined that these genes are very similar to those which are known to be involved in the water deficit stress response in soybean. Since soybean is a major agricultural product, we will utilize Arabidopsis to gain important understanding on how a plant can adapt to lethal environmental stresses.