Project Number: 3611-21000-020-03
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Mar 01, 2003
End Date: Feb 28, 2008

Objective:
Identify domains on sucrose synthase (SuSy) that are essential for binding to membrane and F-actin, and to elucidate the mechanisms that regulate the interactions.

Approach:
Proteolytic recombinant fragments of SuSy will be produced and tested for their ability to bind to specific lipids and to liposomes, to identify potential membrane-binding domains, and to F-actin, to identify the actin-binding domain. Fragments that associate will be sequenced by automated Edman degradation or mass spectrometric analysis at Michigan State University. The role of phosphorylation of Ser15 and Ser170 in the association of SuSy with membranes and F-actin in situ will be assessed using phosphorylation-state specific antibodies. The in vivo significance of specific residues and domains will be examined using transient and stable transformation of maize with wildtype and mutant forms of SuSy.