Schuylerville High School Independent Science Research student Abigail Becker’s research is being submitted to the Journal of Experimental Botany (JXB). Founded in 1950, the JXB is a top-ranking journal, dedicated to publishing novel and rigorous research addressing principles in plant science. Abigail Becker’s research paper is linked below, conducted under the guidance of Schuylerville High School teacher David Conneally.
- Phenotypic Plasticity and Morphogenesis of Penium
- Mentor: Dr. Josephine G. LoRicco, Skidmore College
- Abstract: Phenotypic plasticity in plant cells is often expressed when cell wall integrity monitoring perceives perturbation to the cell wall and initiates multiple subcellular responses. The unicellular zygnematophyte, Penium margaritaceum in a unicellular zygnematophyte (Streptophyta), was employed to elucidate cell expansion and morphogenesis responses when cells were challenged with the fungal-derived pectinolytic enzyme pectate lyase and microtubule disrupting agent APM that exhibits distinct phenotypic plasticity when treated with specific stress agents. When the homogalacturonan lattice on the cell wall is removed by treatment with a fungal enzyme, pectate lyase cell size is notably reduced after several cell division cycles. Cell division is maintained but daughter cell products are notably smaller. Microtubule disruption with the agent, APM, results in significant swelling at the central expansion zone that is mostly likely due to an altered cellulosic architecture of the CW that has weakened lessened tensile resistance to turgor. When incubated in a mixture of both pectate lyase and APM, a distinct phenotype consisting of “dumbbell”-shaped cells results. These cells possess an extensive, central chloroplast-free cytoplasmic zone and swollen zone(s) at one or both cell poles. In these novel phenotypes, a septum containing ß-glycan, arabinogalactan and homogalacturonan epitopes forms grows into the cell center from the side cell wall regions via a furrowing mechanism. The surrounding cytoplasm of this zone contains displaced Golgi bodies, unique stacks of ER, displaced Golgi bodies and an extensive network of vacuoles. These results provide insight into phenotypic plasticity and cell wall integrity monitoring by Penium and the subcellular components that are involved in phenotypic plasticity, and their possible roles in the invasion of land leading to the evolution of land plants by zygnematophyte algae.
About Independent Science Research
Independent Science Research is a course that begins sophomore year. Participants choose and explore a topic of interest using the scientific method as a guiding foundation. Students contact scientists and authors of articles they have studied to build relationships, and eventually choose an appropriate mentor to guide them throughout the program. Students also have the opportunity to earn college credit through the University at Albany. Anyone interested in enrolling should contact their school counselor for more information.