Testing the Model for Endoplasmic Reticulum Morphology and Function in the Process of Root Tip Growth

Abstract

The goal of this project is to analyze the effect that the components of the cytoskeleton have the on the movement, morphology, and function of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and subsequent tip growth in Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana). In particular the effects of the RHD3 protein will be observed to determine its connection to these components. In order to determine how RHD3 relates to the cytoskeleton, the effects of RHD3 loss of function will be analyzed in comparison to the effects of treatment with the herbicide oryzalin. Oryzalin has a well understood effect on the depolymerization of plant microtubules in root hair cells, and expresses a similar phenotype to the one shown in RHD3 mutants. The combination of these two conditions is pertinent to determining the pathway that RHD3 operates on to affect root tip growth in conjunction with the recently developed ER scaffold model.