| Abstract Detail
Integrative Plant Physiology Huang, Tengfang [1], Schroeder, Frank.C. [2], Jander, Georg [2]. When arabidopsis meets fescue: allelopathic potential of a non-protein amino acid. Roots of some varieties of Festuca rubra (Chewing's fescue) contain large amounts of meta-tyrosine. Low concentrations of this non-protein amino acid inhibit the growth of most other plants, including Arabidopsis thaliana and therefore can be one of the chemicals that account for the allelopathic potential of Chewing’s fescue.We have used genetic and biochemical analyses to study the mechanism of toxicity of this unusual amino acid and its physiological and ecological role in fescue-arabidopsis interaction. We tested three hypotheses for its mode of action: meta-tyrosine might function by way of auxin, meta-tyrosine might interfere with plant free amino acid metabolism, and meta-tyrosine might be misincorporated into protein in place of phenylalanine or tyrosine. We demonstrated evidences favoring for the third hypothesis. A mutant screen has also been carried out and several meta-tyrosine resistant Arabidopsis mutants were discovered. These mutants will not only provide insights into the mode of action of meta-tyrosine, but will also serve as great tools to study the physiological and ecological significance of meta-tyrosine in more natural environment. Log in to add this item to your schedule
1 - Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research - Cornell University, Plant Biology, Tower Road, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA 2 - Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Reseach, Tower Road, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
Keywords: fescue Arabidopsis allelopathy m-tyrosine amino acid metabolism.
Presentation Type: Plant Biology Abstract Session: P Location: Exhibit Hall (Northeast, Southwest & Southeast)/Hilton Date: Sunday, July 8th, 2007 Time: 8:00 AM Number: P04016 Abstract ID:1820 |