Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Wilfrid Laurier University
$32,552.00
High-resolution system for the measurement of plant respiratory pathway capacity
FY 2010-11
Summary
This grant will purchase a high-resolution Oroboros Oxygraph 2K micro-respirometer that will be used to assess aerobic activity by accurately measuring oxygen consumption rates in plant cells, isolated membranes, and mitochondria. The system will be used by the applicant at Wilfrid Laurier University to investigate the role of mitochondrial respiration on the ability of a wide variety of plant species to adapt to and survive various environmental stresses. All plant cells contain mitochondria which use oxygen while converting carbon molecules, such as sugars, into energy. Plant mitochondria contain two respiratory pathways; the cytochrome c oxidase pathway, which is found in most organisms, including humans, and the alternative oxidase pathway, which has a more limited distribution. In organisms that have both pathways, respiration can occur using one pathway or a combination of both. The instrument will be used to measure the oxygen consumption of mitochondria in the presence of respiratory inhibitors for these pathways in order to assess each pathway's contribution to respiration under normal conditions and under conditions of environmental stress. The requested instrumentation is not available at Wilfrid Laurier, and the measurement of respiration in cells, membranes, and mitochondria requires that measurements be taken shortly after their isolation, making the use of this equipment at another institution impractical. The instrument will contribute to the training of HQP in my laboratory as well as trainees associated with our Integrative Biology graduate program. This equipment is vital to my research program and serves as a means of integrating our molecular biology, bioinformatics, and biochemical data with our work at the cellular, physiological, and whole organism levels. Alterations in the way mitochondria consume oxygen are important in many physiological phenomena including aging and disease, and a better understanding of these processes is needed.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
407063-2011
Name nom
McDonald, Allison
Department département
Biology
Organization id
35
Institution établissement
Wilfrid Laurier University
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2010
Competition year année de concours
2011
Award amount
32552
Program id
EQPEQ
Program name en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1502
Committee name en
Biological Systems and Functions
Committee name fr
Systèmes et fonctions biologiques
Area of application code
103
Area of application group en
Agriculture and primary food production
Area of application group fr
Agriculture et produits alimentaires primaires
Area of application en
Plant production and plant primary products
Area of application fr
Production végétale et produits végétaux primaires
Research subject code
4902
Research subject group en
Plant and treebiology
Research subject group fr
Biologie végétale et des arbres
Research subject en
Stress physiology
Research subject fr
Physiologie du stress
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
High-resolution system for the measurement of plant respiratory pathway capacity
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
This grant will purchase a high-resolution Oroboros Oxygraph 2K micro-respirometer that will be used to assess aerobic activity by accurately measuring oxygen consumption rates in plant cells, isolated membranes, and mitochondria. The system will be used by the applicant at Wilfrid Laurier University to investigate the role of mitochondrial respiration on the ability of a wide variety of plant species to adapt to and survive various environmental stresses. All plant cells contain mitochondria which use oxygen while converting carbon molecules, such as sugars, into energy. Plant mitochondria contain two respiratory pathways; the cytochrome c oxidase pathway, which is found in most organisms, including humans, and the alternative oxidase pathway, which has a more limited distribution. In organisms that have both pathways, respiration can occur using one pathway or a combination of both. The instrument will be used to measure the oxygen consumption of mitochondria in the presence of respiratory inhibitors for these pathways in order to assess each pathway's contribution to respiration under normal conditions and under conditions of environmental stress. The requested instrumentation is not available at Wilfrid Laurier, and the measurement of respiration in cells, membranes, and mitochondria requires that measurements be taken shortly after their isolation, making the use of this equipment at another institution impractical. The instrument will contribute to the training of HQP in my laboratory as well as trainees associated with our Integrative Biology graduate program. This equipment is vital to my research program and serves as a means of integrating our molecular biology, bioinformatics, and biochemical data with our work at the cellular, physiological, and whole organism levels. Alterations in the way mitochondria consume oxygen are important in many physiological phenomena including aging and disease, and a better understanding of these processes is needed.
