Author
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Nakata, Paul |
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MCCONN, MICHELE - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC) |
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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 5/25/2010 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Calcium oxalate crystal formation is common in plants. Formation of these crystals has been shown to function in plant defense, calcium regulation, and aluminum tolerance. Although calcium oxalate is common and plays important roles in plant development, our understanding of how these crystals form is still incomplete. As a step toward elucidating the mechanisms regulating crystal formation, we conducted a mutant screen of an EMS-mutagenized M. truncatula population. We report here the characterization of reduced crystal mutants that were isolated by visually screening the M. truncatula mutagenized population for alterations in crystal formation. Microscopic examination revealed that the different alleles had varying reductions in both crystal size and number compared to wild type. The general decrease in calcium oxalate formation was confirmed by measuring calcium and oxalate levels. Complementation studies revealed that all the mutants were affected at the same locus. Genetic mapping of the mutation was also conducted as an initial step toward positional cloning of the affected gene. It is our hope that the information gained through the characterization and analysis of such calcium oxalate mutants will be applicable toward future efforts to improve the production and nutritional content of plant foods. |
