Identification of novel membrane transporters associated with potassium acquisition and homeostasis

Blake, Caroline (2004) Identification of novel membrane transporters associated with potassium acquisition and homeostasis. MSc(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

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Printed Thesis Information: https://eleanor.lib.gla.ac.uk/record=b2273752

Abstract

Potassium has long been associated with many different cellular processes such as enzyme activation and osmoregulation. Because of its important role in cellular metabolism, K+ is maintained at high and stable concentrations in the cytoplasm in relation to varying K+ external conditions. This is achieved through synergistic low- and high-affinity mechanisms, which incorporate different ion channels/carriers and pumps located across different membranes within and across different tissues. As potassium homeostasis is a complex process, analysis at the single-gene level would make it virtually impossible to obtain a complete view of membrane transporter processes. This is why a microarray approach was adopted, in order to obtain a broader picture of K+ regulatory pathways. Whilst full genome chips are effective at gaining global expression profiles, we have narrowed the field to exclusively look at Arabidopsis Membrane Transporters through a customised AMT chip that contains probes for 1250 known and putative transporters. Expression changes of membrane transporters were investigated in response to abiotic stress, mimicked by addition of ABA to 2-week-old A.thaliana seedlings grown in potassium-rich or potassium-deplete conditions. Our preliminary results indicate that at least three types of transporters showed consistent but different expression patterns. These included members of the MATE family, a novel putative transporter with 7 predicted transmembrane spanning domains (7TMS) as well as the high-affinity transporter HAK5.

Item Type: Thesis (MSc(R))
Qualification Level: Masters
Additional Information: Adviser: Patrick Armengaud.
Keywords: Physiology.
Colleges/Schools: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
Supervisor's Name: Supervisor, not known
Date of Award: 2004
Depositing User: Enlighten Team
Unique ID: glathesis:2004-71346
Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
Date Deposited: 10 May 2019 10:49
Last Modified: 12 Aug 2021 15:10
URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/71346

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