Submitted by Sheng Luan on
Calcium ions (Ca2+) play diverse roles in various cellular processes and serve as vital secondary messengers in numerous signal transduction pathways. In plants, calcium signaling is integral to responding to various environmental stimuli and orchestrating different aspects of growth, development, and stress responses. However, the intricate molecular mechanisms governing the encoding and decoding of specific calcium signals in various physiological processes remain poorly understood. It is particularly crucial to identify genes and molecular components, such as calcium channels, essential for shaping specific calcium signals under defined conditions. The project's primary objective is to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying the encoding and decoding of specific calcium signals in various physiological processes in plants, especially under different abiotic stress conditions .
To accomplish this goal, the Luan Lab has developed an ethyl-methanesulfonate (EMS)-mutagenized Arabidopsis library. In this library, a calcium indicator protein (GCamP6) is expressed in seedlings to enable real-time monitoring of dynamic cytosolic calcium changes. By subjecting these seedlings to various abiotic stresses, such as cold and high salt, 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 potential mutants. Subsequently, the causal genes contributing to 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 unveiling novel calcium channels and other critical components involved in calcium signaling pathways. Ultimately, it provides valuable insights into plant stress responses and offers 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.
3. Plant genotyping and pheotyping.
4. Other miscellaneous lab work
1. Possess fundamental knowledge of plant biology and plant genetics.
2. Demonstrate a commitment to consistently work 4-8 hours per week.