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NATIVE ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE EXPRESSION, GFP EXPRESSION, AND FLUORESCENT IMAGING OF TRANSGENIC ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA.  C. Folmes ¹, A-L. Paul ², and R. J. Ferl ².   ¹Spaceflight and Life Sciences Training Program (SLSTP), Kennedy Space Center, ²University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

                         A better understanding of a plant’s metabolism and physiology is essential for long-term space flight missions.  Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana was exploited to determine the changes in gene regulation due to space flight stresses.  Prior to flight, experiments will be performed to validate the methods that will be used.  The transgenic plants contain a transgene composed of green fluorescent protein as a reporter gene, driven by the alcohol dehydrogenase gene promoter.  Hypoxic stress was applied to plants by use of agar blankets, and the gene expression was determined with quantitative PCR (Taqman™ RT-PCR) and by fluorescent imaging.  A correlation between native alcohol dehydrogenase gene expression, GFP gene expression and fluorescent intensity was determined within roots and shoots.   In addition, the transduction of expression from the root to the shoot will be explored when the roots tunnel through agar blankets and in plants on a clinostat.  Current data has shown an increase in GFP expression after 48 hours, with a decrease in expression after 96 hours.  In addition the GFP expression is found specifically in the root tips and the root junctions.