Cloning the DRM2 Gene In Arabidopsis Thaliana for Further Research In Plant Pathogenic Defense
Abstract
Genes have a variety of functions, the most important being the encoding of proteins. The proteins encoded by some of these genes silence others and stop them from functioning. In plants, specifically Arabidopsis thaliana, a process called DNA methylation turns off specific genes through the activity of a protein encoded by the DRM2 gene. However, the DRM2 gene could be attacked by a pathogen, which can allow the pathogen to bypass the natural cellular defenses. DRM2 needs to be cloned in order to gain more knowledge and understanding of its processes in Arabidopsis thaliana. By cloning the gene, we will be able to see how it interacts with other plant defense genes and with other pathogens themselves by inserting it into yeast and looking at the interactions between other proteins in the yeast before examining them inside of the plant. The DNA that was suspected to contain DRM2 was replicated through PCR, expressed in gel electrophoresis and then extracted from the agarose gel. The DNA was transformed into E. coli, and then plated for growth. The DNA plasmids were then extracted from the bacteria, replicated, and visualized once more. DRM2 was successfully cloned as shown by the final gel electrophoresis as the plasmids were at the target sequence length. Now that the gene is cloned, it will be used for further research in Arabidopsis thaliana’s defense against pathogens by observing protein interactions in the yeast, and eventually transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants.
Cloning the DRM2 Gene In Arabidopsis Thaliana for Further Research In Plant Pathogenic Defense
Founders Hall 114 A
Genes have a variety of functions, the most important being the encoding of proteins. The proteins encoded by some of these genes silence others and stop them from functioning. In plants, specifically Arabidopsis thaliana, a process called DNA methylation turns off specific genes through the activity of a protein encoded by the DRM2 gene. However, the DRM2 gene could be attacked by a pathogen, which can allow the pathogen to bypass the natural cellular defenses. DRM2 needs to be cloned in order to gain more knowledge and understanding of its processes in Arabidopsis thaliana. By cloning the gene, we will be able to see how it interacts with other plant defense genes and with other pathogens themselves by inserting it into yeast and looking at the interactions between other proteins in the yeast before examining them inside of the plant. The DNA that was suspected to contain DRM2 was replicated through PCR, expressed in gel electrophoresis and then extracted from the agarose gel. The DNA was transformed into E. coli, and then plated for growth. The DNA plasmids were then extracted from the bacteria, replicated, and visualized once more. DRM2 was successfully cloned as shown by the final gel electrophoresis as the plasmids were at the target sequence length. Now that the gene is cloned, it will be used for further research in Arabidopsis thaliana’s defense against pathogens by observing protein interactions in the yeast, and eventually transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants.
