Functional expression of sodium efflux systems in
the plasma membrane of Arabidopsis
This research project is funded by an ARC Large grant to Dr I A Newman
(Chief Investigator, School of Mathematics & Physics) and Dr Sergey
Shabala (Associate Investigator, School of Agricultural Science) University
of Tasmania. The grant is for $212,500 over the three years 2001-2003.
Project description:
Soil salinity is an increasing limitation on agricultural production. In
this project, we will use advanced electrophysiological techniques to study
the mechanisms by which plants remove sodium from their cells. We will
describe how sodium export changes with time after salt treatment. We will
identify the exporting systems and determine how they are regulated, using
the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The resulting understanding
will assist in the development of more salt-tolerant cultivars, which are
needed for our degraded soils.
Project implementation:
Dr Olga Babourina will be employed by the project to study a particular
protein SOS1 whose gene is now known, as part of the recently-sequenced
genome of Arabidopsis. SOS1 is a protein that is supposed to remove
sodium from plant cells in exchange for protons. We will study how that
process is regulated and controlled by the plant. The MIFE
system that we use has been developed in the physics department in
the University of Tasmania and several versions have been sold interstate
and overseas. With it we can measure the movement of several mineral nutrients
into and out of the plant tissues, particularly the roots. The minerals
we will measure include sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride and hydrogen
ions. Information we will gain from Arabidopsis will be able to
be transferred to how important crop plants can better tolerate saline
soils.
Return to Biophysics home page.