1. II. Program Tasks — Ground-based Research Element: NSCORT
NSCORT. Calcium, Signaling and Gravity: An Integrated Molecular; Cellular and Physiological Approach to
Plant Gravitational Biology
Administrator:
Eric Davies, Ph.D.
Department of Botany, Box 7612
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7612
Principal Investigators:
Nina S. Allen; North Carolina State University
Wendy F. Boss; North Carolina State University
Christopher S. Brown; Dynamac Corporation
Joan L. Huber; North Carolina State University
Steven C. Huber; North Carolina State University
Gloria K. Muday; Wake Forest University
Dominique Robertson; North Carolina State University
Ronald R. Sederoff; North Carolina State University
William F. Thompson; North Carolina State University
Edward B. Tucker; Baruch College, City University of New York
Ross W. Whetten; North Carolina State University
Eric Davies; North Carolina State University
NOTE: This NSCORT represents 12 individual tasks with 12 principal investigators.
Funding:
UPN/Project Identification: 199-93-17-14 Solicitation: 94-OLMSA-04
Initial Funding Date: 1996 Expiration: 2000
Students Funded Under Research: 15 Post-Doctoral Associates: 7
FY 1997 Funding: $999,789
Phone: (919)515-2727
Fax: (919)515-3436
E-mail: eric_davies@ncsu.edu
Congressional District: NC - 4
Task Description:
This program in gravitational biology involves 9 faculty members from North Carolina State University, Wake
Forest University, Baruch College, and the Dynamac Corporation through the Kennedy Space Center. The
overall goal is to study calcium as a central focal point in the gravity response. The group uses an integrated
molecular, cellular, and physiological approach to plant gravitational biology.
The precise modulation of calcium homeostasis will be acheived using transgenic technologies and monitored
using sophisticated imaging techniques to verify the specificity and extent of transgenic expression. These
efforts, in combination with our expertise in local and long-distance signalling, will make a major contribution
to understanding the fundamental role of calcium in orchestrating the transduction of the gravity stimulus into an
autopoietc (self-regulated) response.
The project brings together experts in a range of specially-selected fields to address a single major research
problem, i.e., the fundamental role of calcium in regulating gravity-stimulated signal transduction in plants.
The expertise to be called on includes molecular biologists to produce transgenic plants with altered calcium
homeostasis (Thompson, Robertson, Sederoff); cell biologists to image calcium and other components of the
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2. II. Program Tasks — Ground-based Research Element: NSCORT
signal transduction pathway (Allen, Tucker); physiologists to study signal transduction (Boss, Davies, Muday);
and biochemists (Brown, Huber, Huber) to study calcium-modulated carbon/nitrogen metabolism. By fostering
interdisciplinary collaborations among these diverse laboratories, the proposed program will create a
multi-faceted approach to the study of plant gravitational biology.
The NSCORT is a consortium of institutions including North Carolina State University (College of Agriculture
and Life Sciences and School of Forestry), Wake Forest University, Baruch College (City University of New
York), NASA's Kennedy Space Center and Dynamac Corporation (which runs the Life Science Support contract
at KSC). Faculty, staff and/or students from all of the institutions participate in various aspects of the program.
It consists of three major components: Education, Outreach, and Research. Considerable progress has been made
in all three areas.
Education: The NSCORT program offered the graduate-level course "Gravitational and Space Biology" to 15
graduate and advanced undergraduate students (Fall 1996). This course originated from the NC State University
campus and was available on a real-time basis at 5 other campus locations throughout the state via the NC
Regional Electronics Network microwave system. A new undergraduate level course "Space Biology" was
initiated and taught to 16 students (Fall 1997) at the NC State University campus. A portion of this course was
taught remotely from the Kennedy Space Center using real time audio and video link-ups. Experts in space
biology (including Astronaut/Physician Dr. Chuck Brady) were brought in to expose students to current
activities and opportunities in the field.
Outreach: A summer workshop for high school teachers entitled "Plants and Gravity" was offered. Ten
teachers from five states spent time at the NC State University campus interacting with project leaders and
research associates in the program. Some of the teachers have utilized the experience to develop new curricula at
their schools. Additionally, a two day workshop was sponsored and held at the NC State University campus to
train teachers for the educational opportunities associated with the Collaborative Ukrainian Experiment. As a
group, the NSCORT participated in two separate science and technology symposia that offered middle school
students, particularly girls, an opportunity to conduct hands-on experiments in a wide range of scientific areas.
The NSCORT offered activities and tours at the North Carolina Science Olympiad and the National Science
Olympiad. NSCORT scientists presented demonstrations and activities during science fairs at two local
elementary schools and hosted a workshop on plant gravitational and space biology for middle and high school
students attending the Imagination Station Summer Science Camp.
Research: In order to take an integrated approach to studying graviperception and response, six postdoctoral
fellows were hired. These individuals possess skills in molecular biology, electrophysiology, biochemistry, and
cell biology. Four graduate students are currently in the program and one or two more will be recruited. The
physical set-up of the laboratories is complete, including the renovation of the electrophysiology laboratory and
the acqisition of a Leica DMRXA confocal microscope with a rotatable stage. This piece of equipment will
allow us to examine the real time in vivo imaging response of graviresponding plant tissue.
Focus has been placed on the maize pulvinus and the pine seedling compression wood systems as models to
dissect biochemical and morphological response to gravity. Initial characterization is complete and detailed
studies are underway. To understand the molecular genetic component of the gravity response in plants, we have
chosen three proteins (calreticulin, calmodulin, and phosphatidylinositol kinase) to clone. These clones will
then be used to transform Arabidopsis plants for studies on the influence of altered calcium homeostasis in the
gravity response.
This research will determine the mechanisms by which plants perceive and respond to several environmental
stimuli, especially gravity. It will provide a fundamental understanding of basic plant processes, especially at
the cellular, molecular, and developmental levels. A deeper understanding of how plants respond to gravity and
other environmental conditions will improve our understanding of how they grow in various space conditions
(Earth orbit, Mars) and how their growth can be modified to maximize yields on Earth. More applied work on
specific plants should yield valuable by-products of enhanced paper quality (pine seedling system and its
formation of compression wood) and yield of seed grains (reorientation of com plants blown over in strong
winds).
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3. II. Program Tasks — Ground-based Research Element: NSCORT
FY97 Publications, Presentations, and Other Accomplishments:
Allen, N.S. "Confocal microscopy and GFP imaging." (lecture) Dept. of Medical Microbiology, Linkoping
University, Linkoping, Sweden. Video Microscopy Short Course (August 25 - September 4, 1997).
Allen, N.S. "Darkfield and phase microscopy, the basics." (lecture) Dept. of Medical Microbiology,
Linkoping University, Linkoping, Sweden. Video Microscopy Short Course (August 25 - September 4, 1997).
Allen, N.S. "Deconvolution, what is it and where should you use it." (lecture) Dept. of Medical Microbiology,
Linkoping University, Linkoping, Sweden. Video Microscopy Short Course (August 25 - September 4, 1997).
Allen, N.S. "From Leeuwenhoek to electronic light microscopy." (keynote address) Dept. of Medical
Microbiology, Linkoping University, Linkoping, Sweden. Video Microscopy Short Course (August 25 -
September 4, 1997).
Allen, N.S. "Resolution. Abbe's diffraction experiments." (lecture) Dept. of Medical Microbiology,
Linkoping University, Linkoping, Sweden. Video Microscopy Short Course (August 25 - September 4, 1997).
Allen, N.S. "Polarization and DIC microscopy, theory and practice." (lecture) Dept. of Medical Microbiology,
Linkoping University, Linkoping, Sweden. Video Microscopy Short Course (August 25 - September 4, 1997).
Allen, N.S. "Tip growth, an overview." Cytonet Conference, Breckenridge, CO (1997).
Allen, N.S. and Bennett, M.N. "Electro-optical imaging of F-actin and endoplasmic reticulum in living and
fixed plant cells" in "Science of Specimen Preparation for Microscopy and Microanalysis." Edited by: Malecki,
M. and Roomans, G. SMI Press, AMF O'Hare, Chicago, IL (In Press).
Allona, I., Quinn, M., Sun, Y-H., Shoop, E., Swope, K., St. Syr, S., Retzel, E., and Whetter, R. "Analysis
of gene expression during xylem differentiation in loblolly pine." (Abstract) Plant Physiol., 114(3), 11 (1997).
Boss, W.F., Perera, I.Y., Ransom, W.D., Stevenson, J.M., Brglez, I., Heilmann, I.H., and Gross, W.
"Wrapping about the cytoskeleton." (Abstract) Plant Physiol., 114(3), 15 (1997).
Brady, S.R., Dixon, M.W., Cyr, R.J., Fisher, D.D., and Muday, G.K. "BY2 protoplasts as a model for NPA
sensitive auxin transport and gravitropism." (Abstract) ASGSB Bull., 10(1), 78 (1996).
Brown, C.S. "Plant growth and physiology in space." Baruch College, Manhattan, NY (March 4, 1997).
Brown, C.S. "Plant metabolism in space." University of North Carolina-Pembroke, Pembroke, NC (March
13, 1997).
Brown, C.S. "The Collaborative Ukrainian Experiment: Scientific overview." Presented to the 12th Man In
Space Symposium, Washington DC (June 13, 1997).
Brown, C.S. (co-authors - Sanwo, M.M., Stryjewski, E.C., Peterson, B.V., Johnson, C.F., Piastuch, W.C.,
Hilaire, E., and Guikema, J.A.) "The interaction of microgravity and ethylene on soybean growth and
metabolism." Presented to the 12th Man In Space Symposium, Washington DC (June 11, 1997).
Brown, C.S., Sanwo, M.M., Hilaire, E., Guikema, J.A., Stryjewski, E.C., and Piastuch, W.C. "Starch
metabolism and ethylene production in space-grown soybean seedlings." (Abstract) ASGSB Bull., 10, 34
(1996).
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4. II. Program Tasks — Ground-based Research Element: NSCORT
Brown, C.S., Sanwo, M.M., Stryjewski, E.C., Peterson, B.V., Johnson, C.F., Piastuch, W.C., Hilaire, E.,
and Guikema, J.A. "Carbohydrate metabolism and growth in space-grown soybean." (Abstract) Plant Physiol.,
114(3), 91 (1997).
Brown, D. and Muday, G. "Testing the hypothesis that flavonoids rfegulate auxin transport in vivo." (Abstract)
8th International Conference on Arabidopsis Research. 4-8. (1997).
Brown, D.E., Reed, R.C., and Muday, G.K. "Polar auxin transport and gravitropism in Arabidopsis thaliana"
(Abstract) ASGSB Bull., 10(1), 38 (1996).
Butler, J.A., Hu, S., Brady, S., Dixon, M.W., and Muday, G.K. "In vitro and in vivo evidence for actin
association of the NPA binding protein." Plant J. (In Press).
Carter, C.N. and Allen, N.S. "Localization of putative L-type calcium channels in living higher plant cells
using the fluorescent dye DM-BODIPY DHP." (Abstract) Plant Physiol., 114(3), 275 (1997).
Collings, D. (co-authors - Winter, H. and Allen, N.S.) "Cytoskeletal organization in gravistimulated maize
stems." New England Society for Microscopy. Woods Hole, MA (May, 1997).
Collings, D., Winter, H., Huber, J.L., and Allen, N.S. "Structural analysis of gravistimulated maize stems."
(Abstract) Plant Physiol., 114(3), 86 (1997).
Croxdale, J.G., Cook, M.E., Tibbitts, T.W., Brown, C.S., and Wheeler, R.M. "Structural aspects of potato
tubers formed in space." (Abstract) ASGSB Bull., 10(1), 13 (1996).
Croxdale, J.G., Cook, M., Tibbitts, T.W., Brown, C.S., and Wheeler, R.M. "Structure of potato tubers formed
in microgravity." J. Exp. Bot. (In Press).
Davies, E. (invited seminar) Department of Botany, University of Washington, Seattle (1997).
Davies, E. (invited speaker) University of California-Riverside Symposium on Post-trancriptional Regulation
of Gene Expression (1997).
Davies, E. (plenary speaker) Molecular Biology of Plants under Environmental Stress, Poznan, Poland (1997).
Heilmann, I., Gross, W., and Boss, W.F. "Polyphosphoinositide metabolism in Galdieria sulphuraria."
(Abstract) Plant Physiol., 114(3), 268 (1997).
Holzwarth, G., Webb, S.J., Kubinski, D.J., and Allen, N.S. "Improving DIC microscopy with polarization
modulation." J. Microscopy (In Press).
Holzwarth, G., Webb, S.J., Kubinski, D.J., and Allen, N.S. "Improving DIC microscopy with polarization
modulation." (Abstract) Mol. Biol. Cell, 7, 158A (1996).
Hu, S., Dixon, M.L., and Muday, G.K. "Development of a procedure to depolymerize the actin cytoskeleton for
purification of associated proteins." (Abstract) ASGSB Bull., 10(1), 27 (1996).
Huber, J.L., Winter, H. and Huber, S.C. "Do Ca4
* and protein phosphorylation play a role in the gravitropic
response?" (Abstract) Plant Physiol., 114(3), 272 (1997).
Johnson, K.M., Brown, C.S., and Piastuch, W.C. "Examination of the expression patterns of genes involved
in carbon metabolism in soybean seedlings grown in space." (Abstract) Plant Physiol., 114(3), 253 (1997).
978

5. II. Program Tasks — Ground-based Research Element: NSCORT
Luciano, R.L. and Muday, G.K. "Characterization of gravity dependent growth in Fucus zygotes." (Abstract)
ASGSB Bull., 10(1), 26 (1996).
MacKay, J., O'Malley, D.M., Presnell, T., Booker, F.L., Campbell, M.M., Whetten, R.W., and Sederoff, R.R.
"Inheritance, gene expression, and lignin characterization in a mutant pine deficient in cinnamyl alcohol
dehydrogenase." PNAS, 94, 8255-8260 (1997).
Patent Approved, U. S. Patent #: Undetermined. MacKay, O'Malley, Whetten, and Sederoff. "Method of
altering lignin in trees."
Muday, G.K. "The role of auxin transport and the actin cytoskeleton in plant gravity response." Joint
NSF/NASA NSCORT Meeting, Kennedy Space Center, FL (February 17, 1997).
Muday, G.K. and Reed, R.C. "Inhibition of auxin novement from the shoot into the root inhibits lateral root
development in wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana and alfl-l." (Abstract) 8th Intl. Conf. on Arabidopsis Res. 4:41
(1997).
Muday, G.K., Butler, J.H., Hu, S., Brady, S., and Dixon, M.W. "Actin association of the naphthylphthalamic
acid binding protein from zucchini hypocotyls." (Abstract) ASGSB Bull., 10(1), 55 (1996).
O'Malley, D.M., MacKay, J.J., Whetten, R., Campbell, M., Liu, B-H., and Sederoff, R.R. "Genomic
approaches to manipulating lignin composition and amount in wood." TAPPI Proceedings pp. 105-109 (1996).
Perera, I.Y., Stevenson, J.M., and Boss, W.F. "Investigation of phosphoinositide metabolism in
gravistimulated maize pulvini." (Abstract) Plant Physiol., 114(3), 284 (1997).
Ralph, J., MacKay, J., Hatfield, R., Whetten, R.W., O'Malley, D.M., and Sederoff, R.R. "Abnormal lignin in
a loblolly pine mutant." Science, 277, 235-239 (1997).
Ruegger, M., Dewey, E., Hobbie, L., Brown, D., Bernasconi, P., Turner, J., Muday, G., and Estelle, M.
"Reduced NPA-binding in the tir3 mutant of Arabidopsis is associated with a reduction in polar auxin transport
and diverse morphological defects." Plant Cell, 9, 745-757 (1997).
Scott, A.C. and Allen, N.S. "The effect of carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) application on
the gravitropic response in roots and stamen hairs." (Abstract) ASGSB Bull., 10(1), 17 (1997).
Sederoff, R.R. Sigma Xi invited lecture, BASF, Research Triangle Park, NC (1997).
Sederoff, R.R. Workshop presentation, Agricultural Biotechnology, Uppsala, Sweden (1997).
Sederoff, R.R. (invited seminars) Horticultural Research, Auckland, New Zealand (1996); Forestry Research
Institute, Rotorua, New Zealand (1996); Department of Chemistry, University of Ohio (1997); ForBio Research
Ltd. Brisbane (1997); University of Arizona, Tucson (1997); University of Stellenbosch, South Africa (1997).
Sederoff, R.R. (invited speaker) Forest Tree Workshop, Plant & Animal Genome 5 (1996); University of
Chicago, Genetics Minisymposium (1997); Institute of Paper Science and Technology, Atlanta, GA (1997);
Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China (1997); Nanjing Forestry Universty, Nanjing, China (1997);
Presidents Circle, National Academy, Woods Hole, MA (1997); Molecular Genetics of Forest Trees, IUFRO,
Quebec (1997); Internat. Soc. Plant Molecular Biology, Congress in Singapore (1997).
Sederoff, R.R. (symposium speaker) Swedish Plant Physiology Society, Uppsala (1997); Amer. Assoc. Plant
Physiology, Vancouver (1997); Eucalypt: IUFRO meeting, Salvador, Brazil (1997); Forest Biotechnology
Conf., Blomfontein, South Africa (1997).
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6. II. Program Tasks — Ground-based Research Element: NSCORT
Tibbitts, T.W., Croxdale, J.G., Brown, C.S., and Wheeler, R.M. "Potato tuber growth and starch accumulation
in space." (Abstract) ASGSB Bull., 10(1), 28 (1996).
Vian, A., Henry-Vian, C„ and Davies, E. "Molecular analysis in tomato of stree related genes in relation to
electrical signal." (Abstract) Plant Physiol., 114(3), 278 (1997).
Winter, H., Huber, J.L., and Huber, S.C. "Sucrose metabolism during gravity induced cell elongation."
(Abstract) Plant Physiol., 114(3), 143 (1997).
Winter, H., Huber, J.L., Collings, D., Allen, N.S., and Huber, S.C. "Carbohydrate metabolism in
graviresponding maize pulvini." (Abstract) ASGSB Bull., 10(l):extra (1996).
Wyatt, S.E. "Gravity, calcium, signalling & Arabidopsis." Plant Physiology Seminar, Dept. of Botany, Duke
University, Durham, NC (March, 1997).
Wyatt, S.E., Brown, D., Robertson, D., and Muday, G. "The gravitropic response of the inflorescence stems of
Arabidopsis(Abstract) Plant Physiol., 114(3), 133 (1997).
Wyatt, S.E., Tsou, P-L., and Robertson, D. "Manipulation of calcium homeostasis with calreticulin."
(Abstract) Plant Physiol., 114(3), 274 (1997).
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7. 1/2/2016 NCSU-NSCORT Personnel
NC STATE UNIVERSITY
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PERSONN •U3
Home Page
Background
Research
Personnel
Publications
Outreach
Symposia
Links
| Project Leaders | Postdoctoral Researcher Fellows |
| Graduate Students | Professional Staff |
External Advisory Committee | Undergraduate Students |
The NCSU-NSCORT is a team of scientists from N.C. State
University and Wake Forest University.
Members of the NCSU-NSCORT are listed below.
Click on their n a m e for more information.
CHRISTOPHER S. BROWN. Director
HEIKE WINTER. Associate Director for Research
COURTNEY THORNTON. Assistant Director for Outreach
< TOP >
PROJECT LEADERS
NINA STROMGREN ALLEN
WENDY F. BOSS
ERIC DAVIES
JOAN L. HUBER 1996-1998
STEVEN C. HUBER
GLORIA K. MUDAY
DOMINIQUE ROBERTSON
RON SEDEROFF
WILLIAM F. THOMPSON 1996-2001
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EDWARD B. TUCKER 1996-2001
ROSS WHETTEN 1996-2001
< TOP > •
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWS
AMY CLORE 1998-2001
DAVID COLLINGS 1996-2001
INGO HEILMANN 1999-2001
EVA JOHANNES 1997-2000
JOANNE LONG 1998-2000
JOHN LOVE 1996-2000
IMARA PERERA 1996-2001
AARON RASHOTTE 1998-2000.
HEIKE WINTER 1996-1998
SARAH WYATT 1996-2000
< TOP > •
GRADUATE STUDENTS
SANDRA ANTE, MS 2000
ETHAN BROWN. MS 2001
STAFFAN PERSSON. Ph.D. 2001
AMIE SCOTT. MS 1998
PEI-LAN TSOU. Ph.D. 2001
WEI ZHAO. MS 2000
< TOP > •
PROFESSIONAL STAFF
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9. 1/2/2016 NCSU-NSCORT Personnel
RAUL SALINAS, Research Associate
TRACEY HORN. Assistant Director for Outreach, 1996-1998
< TOP > •
EXTERNAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The NCSU-NSCORT went through a self evaluation process on a
yearly basis. The External Advisory Committee played an
integral part of that process by offering advice, criticism and
suggestions on our programs in research, education and
outreach.
External Advisory C o m m i t t e e Members:
SARAH ASSMAN. Pennsylvania State University
ALICE HARMON. University of Florida
PETER HEPLER. University of Massachusetts
WILLIAM KNOTT. NASA - Kennedy Space Center
JAMES PUTNEY. NIEHS, Research Triangle Park
STANLEY ROUX. University of Texas
ANTHONY TREWAVAS. University of Edinburgh
•c TOP >
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Julie Bates
Chad Brenneman
La Shun Carroll
Crystal Carter
Jenny Chang
Linda Cowan
Tracey Cranston
Johnathan Earp
Julie Eledah
Reathal Geary
Stephanie Gupton
Heather Hinkle
Emily Holton
Shiquan Hu
Jamie Huang
R'amon Jacobs
Melissa Keller
Cassie Larrieux
Tad Leeds
Marcus Lewis
Randy Luciano
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10. 1/2/2016 NCSU-NSCORT Personnel
Patrice McDermott
Hallema Mitchell
Christina Moths
Meg Murphy
Katherin Myer
Revonda Marie Polrzywa
David Presley
Susan Rankin
Jochen Rink
Flora Shabani
Haleh Shafa
Jai Shin
Sean Weise
Jep Whitlock
Justine Wilson
Nolan Yeung
Gabor Zuppan
Home page | Background | Research | Personnel
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