Submitted by Sheng Luan on
Calcium ions (Ca2+) play diverse roles in various cellular processes and serve as important secondary messengers in many signal transduction pathways. In plants, calcium signaling is involved in responding to various environmental stimuli and coordinating different aspects of growth, development, and stress responses. However, the molecular mechanisms of coding and decoding of specific calcium signals in various physiological processes are not well understood. Particularly, it is important to identify genes or molecular components (e.g. calcium channels) that are required for shaping a specific calcium signal under a defined condition. The project aims to unravel the molecular mechanisms governing the coding and decoding of specific calcium signals in various physiological processes in plants, particularly under different abiotic stress conditions. To achieve this objective, the Luan Lab has developed an ethyl-methanesulfonate (EMS)-mutagenized Arabidopsis library, where a calcium indicator protein (GCamP6) is expressed in seedlings to facilitate the real-time monitoring of dynamic cytosolic calcium changes. By subjecting the seedlings to various abiotic stresses, such as cold and high salt, the researchers observe and record the corresponding calcium signals in individual plants. Mutants displaying abnormal calcium dynamics relative to the wild type are identified through screening of the EMS-mutagenized library. Isolated seedlings exhibiting altered calcium signal patterns will undergo further confirmation and phenotypic analysis to characterize the potential mutants. Subsequently, the causal genes contributing to the distinct calcium signals under different stress conditions will be identified using map-based gene cloning and multiple molecular experiments. This research holds significant promise in revealing novel calcium channels and other crucial components involved in calcium signaling pathways, ultimately providing valuable insights into plant stress responses and potential avenues for enhancing stress tolerance and growth in challenging environments.
1. Assist in screening Arabidopsis mutants expressing the GCamP6 calcium indicator.
2. Conduct phenotypic analysis of Arabidopsis mutants under various stress conditions.
1. Possess fundamental knowledge of plant biology and plant genetics.
2. Demonstrate a commitment to consistently work 4-8 hours per week.