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Thigmomorphogenesis
Overview
The 21st Century Biology Class at Sidwell Friends School is currently
working on thigmomorphogenesis experiments on sorghum, a monocot, and
arabidopsis, a dicot. The thigmomorphogenesis group will compare the effects
of mechanical stimulation on these plants. The group will also focus on
various areas of research including methods of RNA extraction, differences
between monocot and dicot reactions to touch stimuli, the protein calmodulin,
and the second messenger pathways of mechanical stimulation.
Current
Experiments
Our focus this year will primarily be to grow these plants under conditions
of constant mechanical stimulation and then compare the effects between
the sorghum and arabidopsis. The group will also focus on isolating and
extracting the RNA coding for a protein called calmodulin which is one
of three main proteins that are a part of the response to mechanical stimulation.
RNA Isolation
RNA isolation is a crucial step in discovering new properties of the putative
forms of calmodulin. We are currently using a Gentra RNA Isolation Kit
in our extraction of RNA from both Sorghum and Arabidopsis plants. After
obtaining an RNA "pellet" we run it through a northern blot
to view the RNA sequence and can then determine whether or not the two
genes code the same calmodulin protein. Gentra’s plant tissue protocol
consists of four main parts: Cell Lysis, Protein-DNA Precipitation, RNA
Precipitation, and RNA Hydration. Our most recent efforts to extract mRNA
from Sorghum and Arabidopsis are currently being run through a northern
blot. This extraction is believed to have been successful because sizable
RNA pellets were obtained during the extraction procedure.