Milena Cvikrova
Company
Institute of Experimental Botany v.v.i.
Address
Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
Rozvojova 263
165 02 Prague 6
Telephone
+42 02 20390409
E-mail
cvikrova@ueb.cas.cz
Web
http://home.ueb.cas.cz/index_eng.htm
1. Summary of the work to be allocated into WG4
This partner will determine the alterations in polyamine biosynthetic enzyme activities and in the contents of polyamines in drought stressed plants. The laboratory has not yet any collaborative links with partner laboratories in this COST action.
2. Specific activities to be integrated into WG4
Effects of drought and heat stress on polyamine metabolism in wild type and transgenic tobacco plants will be studied. Transgenic plants over-expressing D1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase gene (P5CS), which codes for the key enzyme of proline biosynthesis, will be used in the experiments. Determination of biosynthetic and catalytic enzyme activities, HPLC analyses of free and conjugated forms of polyamines and transcript levels of three key polyamine biosynthetic genes will be monitored.
3. Qualification for the role and current grants
Milena Cvikrova is head of the Laboratory of Biologically Active Substances, Institute of Experimental Botany, Prague. Her research activity is focused on studies of the metabolism of polyamines and phenolic compounds in plants and tissue cultures and in their role in growth processes and plant responses to various stresses. She is author and co-author of more than 45 papers dealing with metabolism of phenolics and polyamines. A new grant from Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic (OC08013) will cover the expenses of this project.
4. Technical expertise and facilities
This partner will provide experience required for HPLC determination of polyamines, determination of polyamine metabolic enzyme activities and plant tissue and cell culture techniques.