The overall goal of this project is to understand how pistil S-Rnase of Petunia inflata discriminate between self pollen and non-self pollen during self-incompatibility interactions. Since the use of RNases as recognition molecules is unique to this type of self-incompatibility, this study will uncover a new model for cellular recognition in biological systems. Furthermore, a number of medically important proteins have been shown to be RNases, e.g., angiogenin which is involved in the vascularization of tumor cells, and two major proteins in the secretory granules of cytotoxic eosinophils which play a role in the immune defense system. Hence, the study of S-Rnase will also expand the scope of the understanding of the biological functions of RNases.
The specific aims are 1) to use transposon insertion mutagenesis to identify the so far elusive pollen component of self-incompatibility in order to understand how S- RNases discriminate between self and non-self pollen; 2) to introduce S- Rnase/GFP (green fluorescence protein) fusion constructs into transgenic plants to study whether rejection of self pollen results from allele- specific uptake of S-RNases into pollen tubes.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31GM019381-02
Application #
2857059
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG2-SSS-F (06))
Project Start
1999-01-01
Project End
Budget Start
1999-01-01
Budget End
1999-12-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Pennsylvania State University
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
University Park
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
16802