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Research
| For years we've known that plants interact with their home soils in a myriad of subtle and important ways--but we weren't sure precisely the nature of those interactions. CRB is following the ubiquitious model plant Arabidopsis out into the wild, all over the world. We're examining the molecular and genetic responses of known genotypes and mutants to a variety of soils harboring Arabidopsis, from Illinois to Sweden. |
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| Virtually nothing is known about the molecular mechanisms by which roots secrete phytochemicals into the rhizosphere. Specifically, this project will provide a detailed characterization of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter genes involved in root exudation, using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model plant. The ABC transporter genes, found in organisms in all kingdoms, encode the proteins responsible for the transport of a wide variety of critical substances across cellular membranes. At least 25 ABC transporter genes involved in root exudation will be characterized. The tissue-specific expression of these genes will be investigated under inducing conditions known to affect metabolic activity and root secretion. Root exudation offers a unique system for identifying specific substrates for a large number of ABC transporters, and we expect that some transporters will be specific to certain chemicals while other transporters will be more generalist. This project will greatly enhance our understanding of the biochemical role of ABC transporters in plants, and will help provide the tools to over-induce the secretion of compounds in crops to fight against pathogens and weeds. |
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Las chacras del Diablo ("Devil's Gardens") of the Tambopata region are examples of the intriguing symbiosis between the Azteca ant and the Cecropia tree. Either the tree or the ant, or both in combination, are able to completely eliminate surrounding vegetation to a distance of at least one foot from the tree’s trunk forming a bare circle around the tree, a highly distinctive element in the rainforest where almost every square inch of land is covered by plants. CRB is putting together a study using a biochemical ecology approach to dissect this interaction. |
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