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Degree Name
MS (Master of Science)
Program
Biology
Date of Award
12-2016
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Aruna Kilaru
Committee Members
Dhirendra Kumar, Ranjan Chakraborty
Abstract
Anandamide (NAE 20:4) or arachidonlyethanolamine (AEA) is the most widely studied N-acylethanolamine (NAE) because it mediates several physiological functions in mammals. In vascular plants, 12-18C NAEs inhibit growth in an abscisic acid (ABA)-dependent and -independent manner. Anandamide, which is unique to bryophyte Physcomitrella patens, inhibited gametophyte growth and reduced chlorophyll content when applied exogenously. It is hypothesized that anandamide mediates its responses through morphological and cellular changes. Following growth inhibition by short-term anandamide-treatment, microscopic analyses revealed relocated chloroplasts and depolymerized F-actin in protonemal tips. Long-term treatment showed partially bleached gametophyte cells with degraded and browning chloroplasts. These anandamide-mediated responses have physiological implications as AEA may function as a signal for gametophytes to activate secondary dormancy as seen with ABA. Future studies will investigate the role of AEA in mediating stress responses and possible interaction with ABA.
Document Type
Thesis - restricted
Recommended Citation
Chilufya, Jedaidah Y., "Anandamide-Mediated Growth Changes in Physcomitrella patens" (2016). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3162. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3162
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.