20.109(F08): T/R Team Purple's Research Proposal

Proposal

Bonsai Nightlight

We propose to genetically alter a bonsai plant to introduce three functions:

• luminescence by floral parts
• regulation of luminescence by day/night cycles
• switch (possibility to "turn off" the luminescence within a half-an-hour time period)

Stuff to Consider

• Species of bonsai
• Gene expression in flowers
  • emphasize proteins expressed ONLY in flowers (probably use petals because theyre the prominent part?...)
• Gene/protein used for glowing
  • Luciferase
  • Luciferin substrate
  • fusion effects?
• Day/night cycles - luminescence only at night
  • Looking at time-of-the-day-sensitive plants and genes responsible for sensitivity to sunlight
  • Actual linkage of luciferase expression with nighttime
• Possibility to turn luminescence "off" (by spraying, for example)
  • Compound that catalyzes degradation of luciferase
  • Receptors that would allow the compound into the cell
    • modify receptors already present
    • introduce receptors from another species/specifically engineered receptors
• Side effects
  • Will light from glowing flowers mess up natural day/night cycle of bonsai?
  • Will it mess up year-long cycles?
  • Will life expectancy of bonsai decrease?
  • Harmful to people? (It shouldn't be...)
  • Additional requirements for plant upkeep? (because it might spend a lot of energy producing the glow)

Research

• Luciferase Expression
  • Firefly Luciferase Gene: Structure and Expression in Mammalian Cells
    • http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=365129
    • Luciferase cDNA
  • Transient and Stable Expression of the Firefly Luciferase Gene in Plant Cells and Transgenic Plants
    • http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/1698089.pdf
    • pretty much says luciferase works in plants - has that glowing picture of a plant that we can use in presentation
  • What has been done
    • http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/kabernd/seminar/2002/edible/pt.htm
    • First luminescent plant - orchid

• Finding Genes for Petal Pigmentation
  • Control of Pigment Biosynthesis Genes during Petal Development
    • http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?artid=160358&blobtype=pdf
    • an explanation on the process of pigment synthesis in petals of plants, can look through references of this paper to find more potentially useful articles?
  • Pigment Composition and Characterazation of Anthocyanin Synthese Gene in Dianthus
    • http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/200317/000020031703A0537067.php
    • description of specific genes relating to pigmentation of Dianthus flowers (major pigment cyanidin)