SVIBOR - Project code: 1-08-186

MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Strossmayerov trg 4, HR - 10000 ZAGREB
tel.: +385 1 459 44 44, fax: +385 1 459 44 69
E-mail: ured@znanost.hr

SVIBOR

SVIBOR - Collecting Data on Projects in Croatia


Project code: 1-08-186


Structure and Function of Photosynthetic Apparatus


Main researcher: WRISCHER, MERCEDES (54316)



Assistants
Type of research: basic
Duration from: 01/01/91. to 12/31/93.

Papers on project (total): 43
Papers on project quoted in Current Contents: 9
Institution name: Institut "Ruđer Bošković", Zagreb (98)
Department/Institute: Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry/Molecular Genetics
Address: Bijenička c. 54
City: 10000 - Zagreb, Croatia
Communication
Phone: 385 (01) 4561-111
Fax: 385 (01) 425-647
Fax: 385 (01) 425-647

Summary: The project comprises investigations of plastid differentiation and the effect of growth substances and specific herbicides on these processes. Ultrastructural changes in plastids will be studied on the following systems: leucoplast (amyloplast) - chloroplast and leucoplast - chloroplast - chromoplast. It will be studied to what extent some growth substances influence these transformations. By applying specific herbicides the plastid differentiation should be influenced and in this way the mode of their inhibition determined. The mechanism of plastid division will be studied, particularly the effect of some environmental factors on it. Identification of the macromolecular components of plastids will be investigated in detail, particularly the plastid proteins and plastid DNA. The synthesis of specific protein complexes of photosynthetic apparatus during development of chloroplasts from some other plastid types will be examined. Parallelly with this work changes in the pigment composition of photosynthetic membranes and of specific chromoplast membranes will be studied. One of the objects examined will be plastids of the "aurea" mutants. The effect of light on macromolecular components of the thylakoids and the changes in plastid nucleoids during yellowing and regreening of these leaves will be investigated.

Keywords: plastids, differentiation of plastids, plastid division, "aurea" plastids, growth substances, specific herbicides, plastid DNA, plastid proteins, plastid pigments

Research goals: By improving the existing and introducing new analytical methods, like electron microscope cytochemistry and fluorescence microscopy the proposers expect to increase the knowledge about plastids, particularly about "nongreen" plastids. By introducing methods for separation and analysis of proteins and specific methods for analysis of pigments a better understanding of macromolecular changes in plastid membranes during their differentiation are expected. The application of fluorescence microscopy and specific fluorochromes should enable the study of behaviour of plastid nucleoides during plastid division, differentiation and dedifferentiation. A study of macromolecular structures of photosynthetic membranes would enable a better understanding of the transformations of "aurea" plastids induced by light and growth substances. The reciprocal relation between the structure and biochemical composition (proteins, carotenoids) is expected to be solved by application of growth substances and herbicides which specifically interrupt or direct the carotenoid biosynthesis.


COOPERATION - INSTITUTIONS


  1. Name of institution: Zavod za molekularnu biologiju, Biološki odjel, Prirodoslovno-matematički fakultet, Sveučilište u Zagrebu
    Type of institution: University/Faculty
    Type of cooperation: Joint publishing of scientific papers
    City: 10000 - Zagreb, Croatia

Other information about the project.
MZT Croatian language SVIBOR Alphabetic list Sorted on project code Sorted on institutions Search help
Ministry of
Science and
Technology
Croatian
language
Svibor
homepage
Alphabetic
list
Sorted on
project code
Sorted on
institutions
Search Help

Last update: 09/26/95
Information: svibor@znanost.hr