9631681 Jensen This Americas Program award will support collaborative research between Dr. Richard G. Jensen of the University of Arizona and Drs. Omar Pantoja and Bronwyn Barkla of the Instituto de Biotecnologia of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) in Cuernavaca, Mexico. The objective of this project is to focus on the biochemical and regulatory uptake of sodium through potassium channels of halophytic plants. The two research groups share an interest in higher plant salinity tolerance, and in comparing mechanisms identified in the halophyte Mesembryanthemum crystallinum (ice plant) with corresponding mechanisms in glycophytes. They plan to characterize the AKT/KAT and HKT transcript complement in the ice plant; study cell-tissue development and stress specific expression of genes; characterize the channel/transporter proteins expressed in suspension culture cells and in Xenopus oocytes; and investigate protein responses to external stimuli and pharmacological agents. The joint work will be complementary and offer an opportunity for students and researchers to explore concepts and techniques relevant to each laboratory. ***
