Isolation of genes important in plant growth and differentiation using enhancer tagging Mike Switzer (UR '00)

Current position
Representative, Schering-Plough Corp.

Aims of project at U. Richmond
Signal transduction pathways are involved in carrying messages to the nucleus regarding external stimuli regulating the expression of genes controlling the growth and development of cells. In animal systems, protein tyrosine kinases are known to play crucial roles in signal transduction. However, no tyrosine kinases have yet been shown to be involved in plant signaling pathways. We have recently isolated a plant gene encoding a protein that has the signature amino acid sequence of a tyrosine kinase.

Having discovered this new messenger, my first goal is to determine what type of pathway it is involved in. By growing transgenic plants that have been engineered to produce this protein constituatively and observing the development of these plants, we will gain insight into the overall effect of this pathway on plant growth and development. I will further determine where and when this gene is expressed in intact plants through use of the promoter/reporter gene construct. Lastly, I will investigate the organization of this cascade by isolating proteins that interact with this new kinase to begin to piece together the organization of this signaling pathway.

Awards
University Arts & Sciences Summer Fellowship, 1999